Ravichandran Ashwin hails Tilak Varma for adapting well to the finishing role after ZIM vs IND T20Is

Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has lavished praise on Tilak Varma for adapting well to the finishing role after the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. There have been questions raised about Varma’s ability to play spin in the middle overs and also about his strike rate.

However, Varma scored an impressive knock of 60 runs off just 29 balls in the second T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare on Saturday. Thus, he played an instrumental role in helping India post 219 runs on the board.

“Everyone wants him to bat in the top order. Tilak Verma is a designated no. 3 or 4. But extremely commendable in the way he finishes the innings. If he can consistently bat at this number and give a good finish like he did, even in the T20 World Cup, where he was good, it’s going to hold India in a great position. And Tilak Verma is a phenomenal player, according to me. And he will keep getting better,” Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel.

On the other hand, Ashwin said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be a consistent player with time. Sooryavanshi could only manage 42 runs in three T20Is against England however, he scored 151 runs in three games against Zimbabwe.

Ashwin concluded, “He will be consistent. His standard performance will not come here. There will be ups and downs. He will be consistent in both cricket and life. So, I think, all in all, he has a lot of ability. And he has shown how he can adapt. In IPL, I have said this so many times in commentary and review that his improvement graph is at a different level. For a 15- 16-year-old kid, I have never seen such an improvement graph. And that is exceptional.”

Sooryavanshi has shown the potential to go a long way in his career and he would look to carry the good show.