Home
The Indian team management must be breathing a sigh of relief after Tilak Varma passed his return-to-play test with flying colours. The Hyderabad left-hander made a smooth comeback to competitive cricket following a lower abdominal surgery as India A, packed with IPL stars, comfortably defeated the United States by 38 runs in a high-scoring T20 World Cup warm-up match on Monday.
India A off to a good start
Batting first, India A embraced the aggressive style now familiar from the senior team. Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper Narayan Jagadeesan stole the show with a blistering 104 off just 55 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes.
USA's batting
The USA fought hard on a flat pitch, finishing at 200 runs, with Indian-origin batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s 41 off 18 balls being the standout performance for the visitors. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also made a strong case for selection, taking three wickets and keeping himself in the mix as a potential replacement for Washington Sundar, if needed.
For the Indian selectors, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and captain Suryakumar Yadav, the focus was on assessing Tilak Varma’s match fitness after he completed a three-week “Return To Play” protocol at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Pakistan travel to Sri Lanka for T20 World Cup 2026 amid India boycott stance
Tilak Varma's comeback
Tilak impressed with a quick 38 off 24 balls, including a couple of powerful sixes off left-arm spinners Harmeet Singh and Nosthush Kenjige. He particularly targeted Harmeet, striking him for three boundaries. What stood out most was that Tilak showed no sign of discomfort while batting.
In the field, he made a well-judged running catch to dismiss Saiteja Mukkamalla, maintaining perfect balance while retreating under the ball. Tilak also bowled later in the match, taking a wicket and holding on to a second catch, proving his all-round readiness. With this performance, Tilak is likely to reclaim his No. 3 spot in the senior team, which could put pressure on Sanju Samson, who has struggled with five consecutive low scores, while Ishan Kishan waits in the wings.
Other highlights included Riyan Parag making a comeback, though India A skipper Ayush Badoni, who scored a breezy 60 off 24 balls, dominated the spotlight. Parag had limited opportunities with both bat and ball. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav, returning from a long injury layoff with a slightly adjusted action, bowled some fiery deliveries but looked understandably rusty, finishing with 0/37 in 3 overs.
ADVERTISEMENT
