Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 26: Following his match-winning knock in the second T20I against England, India batter Tilak Varma praised skipper Suryakumar Yadav for his exceptional leadership and strong bond with the team. Tilak highlighted how Suryakumar connects well with every player, offering support both on and off the field.
India, under Suryakumar’s leadership, secured a thrilling two-wicket victory at Chepauk Stadium on Saturday, taking a 2-0 series lead in the five-match series by successfully chasing down 166 runs.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live show, Tilak shared, “I can only say one thing, not just for me, but for every player. We both play together in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, but even for any new player, he maintains a strong bond with everyone. On and off the field, he gives so much time to all the players. It feels great when someone like Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India, is with us. Even when a new player joins the team, it doesn’t feel like a stranger.”
Tilak emphasized the positive impact of Suryakumar’s leadership, saying, “He bonds so well with everyone. It makes a huge difference on the field, especially in terms of communication and understanding where to go or what to do. He spends so much time with us, and that’s very beneficial for the team.”
Tilak also praised his skipper for helping to shape his career by giving him the number three batting spot. “For this series, there’s a left-right combination, so I’m ready to bat wherever I’m needed. The flexibility is good, and I am adapting well to it,” he said.
In the match, India won the toss and elected to bowl first. England’s top order struggled against India’s spinners, with Jos Buttler top-scoring for his side with 45 runs off 30 balls. Useful cameos from Brydon Carse (31 off 17 balls) and Jamie Smith (22 off 12 balls) took England to a total of 165/9 in 20 overs. Axar Patel (2/32) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/38) were the standout bowlers for India.
In reply, India faced early setbacks, losing key wickets including captain Suryakumar Yadav (12) and Hardik Pandya (7). However, Tilak Varma (51 off 39 balls) found support from Washington Sundar (26 off 19 balls) in a crucial 38-run partnership. Despite a middle-order collapse, Tilak, alongside Arshdeep Singh (4) and Ravi Bishnoi (9*), guided India to a thrilling two-wicket win, securing the series lead with four balls to spare.
Carse’s brilliant 3/29 and Adil Rashid’s economical 1/14 were not enough to stop India, as they claimed a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.