By Sampurna Majumder
Tilak Verma’s rise in Indian Cricket crossed a new milestone on Sunday at Dharamshala when the 23-year-old left-hander surpassed Kohli in long run-chases. Verma became the batter with the best average inT20I run chase in the world highlighting his rising prominence as one of the most reliable performers in the shortest format in India.
Batting at No. 3 in the third T20I against South Africa, Tilak played with an unusual tempo with significance. With three boundaries, Tilak was unbeaten 25 off 34 balls which is not that surprising but it directed India calmly to a target of 118 in 15.5 overs. More significantly, it boosted his numbers into the elite range.
With the following inning against South Africa, Tilak’s average rose to 70.50 which is the highest by an Indian Batter surpassing Kohli’s 70.28 against Pakistan (300 runs). But run chases were the significant milestone. Tilak presently leads the world list of batters from test-playing countries with an average of 68.0 in T20I chases (minimum 500 runs), surpassing Kohli’s legendary record of 67.1.
Tilak’s stability at No.3 enhances his effectiveness. He has amassed 467 runs in 14 innings at an average of 58.5 and a strike rate of 160.27 in that role, including two hundreds and two fifties which is a unique mix of volume and impact in Twenty20 cricket. His form has been further demonstrated by the current five-match series against South Africa. Starting with 26 in the first game and a smooth 62 off 34 balls in the second Twenty2 International, Tilak has amassed 113 runs in three consecutive games.
With two hundreds and five fifties, Tilak Varma currently has 1110 runs from 39 Twenty20 Internationals at an average of 48.26 and a strike rate of 142.48.
The statistics indicate that India may have already discovered its next great chase finisher, who has now surpassed the ‘chasemaster’ himself, at the age of just 23.