Photo courtesy: IANS
The inclusion of teenage hitter Tilak Varma in the ODI World Cup squad, according to former Indian batter Robin Uthappa, will be a subject of contention among national selectors and team management.
Varma, who has not yet played in an ODI, has distinguished himself as India’s top performer in the T20I series on his first overseas tour. His outstanding performance, which included 173 runs over the course of the 5-match T20I series in the West Indies, was widely praised. It has been noted how well he has adapted to the global stage.
“Yeah. Certainly, he will be discussed by the selectors as well, because you want to look at someone who can serve the team for a long time. He seems like he’s got a pretty good head on his shoulders, and he goes about his business in a very diligent way,” said Uthappa while speaking to Jio Cinema after the conclusion of the T20I series against West Indies.
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“We know that he’s someone who can be responsible. And even today, the kind of partnership he stitched up after the first two wickets fell, you saw him taking on responsibility, which is quite nice,” Uthappa added.
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Given the issues India’s middle order is having as a result of the injuries to KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer, as well as Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles in ODIs, it’s possible that Tilak will be a last-minute addition to the World Cup roster.
Tilak’s ability to serve as a backup spin bowler for the Indian ODI team, according to Robin Uthappa, would make him a better addition.
The 20-year-old dismissed Nicholas Pooran on only his second delivery of his international career on Sunday in a series-deciding game. He also nearly struck out Brandon King, another important batter, but was unable to make a return catch.
“Then when you get the ball, like, you know, I’ll try and go for it. Try and get a wicket. He got a wicket. He almost got two; he would’ve, had he taken that catch, the return catch. In that sense, the stuff is there. And the fact that he’s a left-hander,” said Uthappa.
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