India’s T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has opened up on his bizarre run out in the third T20I of the series against West Indies. In the slog overs of the third T20I, Axar Patel played a low full-toss on the pads towards deep square leg. Kamil Pooran put in a dive to save the boundary but Varma had thought that it is a four. Axar and Tilak completed a run and then they were having a chat thinking that the ball had crossed the boundary. But, it wasn’t the case, Pooran threw the ball to wicketkeeper and captain Shai Hope who lobbed it to bowler Gudakesh Motie. The spinner removed the bails as Tilak was casually walking back to the non-striker’s end. The India vice-captain was in disbelief as he had to make the long way back to the dressing room. Ahead of the fourth T20I, Tilak revealed why he though it was a boundary and how he couldn't understand why his teammates were shouting "go, go, go".
"A lot has been said about the run out,” Tilak said with a smile. “I saw a flash [from the digital boundary hoardings] and personally felt that the fielder touched the hoarding with his hand while flicking the ball in. Axar [Patel] also felt the same, so we both stopped at the same time. It wasn't that he or I stopped first. The ball was thrown to Axar's end, so he could see it, but at the non-striker's end, I was facing the other way. Our teammates were shouting from outside, 'go, go, go.' If Axar had known any better, he would have shouted and I would have run.
"In life going forward, I will never stop, even if the umpire signals a boundary. I will just keep running [laughs]."
Tilak had to return to the dressing room, losing his wicket for a 16-ball 28 in the 17th over. West Indies players rejoiced as they accepted a freebie from the hosts. Axar saw the funny side of the incident and had a smile on his face. But, that wasn't the case with head coach Gautam Gambhir who was fuming over what happened in the middle.
Tilak’s run out affected India’s scoring rate in the slog overs. When he departed, India were 194/7 in 16.4 overs. No boundary was scored in the next over bowled by Keemo Paul. On the first ball of the penultimate over, Arshdeep Singh got Axar run out going for a non-existing single. Axar saw Arshdeep charging at the striker's end and he left his crease as well. It was another easy run out for West Indies as Axar departed for a 14-ball 20. Arshdeep hit a six before he lost his wicket to Shamar Springer.
But, in the final over, Prince Yadav played a cameo with three boundaries against Shamar. His unbeaten six-ball 13 helped India post 223 on the board. Arshdeep made up for Axar's run out with a three-fer as West Indies were contained for 209/7 in the run chase of 224.
India are leading by 2-1 in the five-T20I series. A win at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, will help them take an unassailable lead in the series.
Tilak lauds West Indies
Tilak has credited West Indies for their batting depth. He believes that the Indian team cannot be sure of a win even when West Indies’ no.11 batter is on strike.
"The West Indies are a really good side, especially in T20 format. They play so much franchise cricket, so they know how to play this format. The power they have is unbelievable," Tilak said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"Everyone can hit the ball. It is not just the openers, number three or four. All their players can strike the ball, and even the 11th batter can come in and hit. Until all 10 wickets fall, the game is not over. We cannot relax."
In the previous game, Springer smashed four sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 11-ball 35.
Meanwhile, he revealed that head coach Gambhir wants the bowlers to take a more attacking approach even if West Indies batters are going on a rampage. He wants the bowlers to bowl with a wicket-taking mindset instead of being defensive.
"Initially, in the second game, we did not go for wickets. We were slightly defensive when they (West Indies) were scoring runs. But after that, as a team, Gautam (Gambhir) sir also mentioned that we can go for wickets and show that aggression," he said.
The southpaw is excited to play in front of his homecrowd as the vice-captain of the team.
"It is really a proud moment for me to play in front of Hyderabad crowd as vice-captain of the Indian team. It will be a special moment for me," he said.
Tilak’s numbers from no.3 to no.7
The 23-year-old has made peace with not batting at no.3. He has made the middle-order role his own and continued to bat with an attacking intent. So far, he has batted at third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh position.
At no.7, he has 52 runs from three games at a strike rate of 179.31. His strike rate is the highest at no.6 with 197 runs from nine innings. He has a fifty at this number as well. He takes a more balanced approach at no.5, scoring 401 runs from 17 innings at an average of 40.10 and strike rate of 145.28. His strike rate is the lowest at no.4. He has scored 490 runs from 14 innings at an average of 54.44 and strike rate of 128.60. He has an impressive record at no.3 with 651 runs from 21 innings at an average of 43.40 and strike rate of 43.40. In addition to two centuries, they have three fifties as well.
Tilak to surpass Dhoni, Dhawan
Tilak needs one run to surpass former captain MS Dhoni and 27 runs to go past former opener Shikhar Dhawan on the list of most T20I runs in India. So far, Tilak has 670 runs from 26 T20Is at home. In home conditions, he averages 41.87 and scores at a strike rate of 143.16. He has three T20I fifties in India.