Tilak Varma reckons that sharing the dressing room with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has given him a new level of confidence as he looks to establish himself in international cricket. The 23-year-old, who has featured in four ODIs and scored a half-century, enjoys the longer formats and is intent on making the most of his opportunities on the South Africa tour.
“ODI and Test cricket feel like my game because I enjoy the longer format. I’m really excited to play more ODIs as well. When Rohit bhai and Virat bhai are in the same team, the confidence level is completely different,” Varma said on JioStar.
For Varma, spending time with two of India’s most accomplished cricketers has been a valuable learning phase. “They have so much experience and knowledge, and I try to take as much advice from them as possible to get better,” he said. The conversations, he added, have helped him understand the demands of international cricket from close quarters.
A major part of his growth has come through discussions with Virat Kohli, especially on fitness and running between the wickets – areas Varma wants to sharpen as he prepares for a long future with the Indian team.
“I speak to Virat bhai a lot, especially about fitness and running between the wickets. His intensity is incredible. I love running too, and I feel I’m pretty quick, so I really enjoy that part of the game,” he said. Kohli’s emphasis on sharp singles and maintaining tempo during an innings has already influenced Varma’s approach.
The youngster is also eager for the chance to bat with Kohli more often. “If we play together, running between the wickets with him is something I look forward to,” he said.
With India testing their bench strength in the ongoing ODI series, Varma is aware of the importance of converting opportunities. “Whatever opportunities I get against South Africa, I want to finish those matches. I want to prove myself in ODIs and Tests too. I’m challenging myself to perform in the longer formats and grow as an individual player,” he said.
