NEW DELHI: India’s middle-order batter Tilak Varma credited a calculated strategy for his blistering assault on England pacer Jofra Archer during the second T20I in Chennai on Saturday.
Tilak, who anchored India’s two-wicket victory with an unbeaten 72 off 55 balls, took apart Archer, smashing him for four sixes, including a jaw-dropping flick over deep fine leg. Archer, who had bowled economically in the first match, conceding just 21 runs in his four overs, endured a torrid time at Chepauk, leaking 60 runs in his quota.
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The Hyderabad-born batter revealed in the post-match press conference that his approach to targeting England’s premier bowler was a deliberate tactic to unnerve the opposition.
“I wanted to target their best bowler. If you take on the best bowler, the others come under pressure,” Tilak explained. “When wickets were falling at the other end, I backed myself to take chances against Archer. The shots I played were ones I’ve worked on in the nets, and I was mentally prepared for them.”
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India, chasing 166, had stumbled at regular intervals, but Tilak’s calculated onslaught and ability to adjust to the situation proved decisive. Reflecting on his mindset, Tilak shared his determination to guide the team home.
“I said to myself, whatever happens, I’ll stay till the end and finish the game. Gautam (Gambhir) sir spoke to me during the last match and reminded me of the importance of adaptability—playing with a strike rate of six or seven or going above 10 as per the team’s requirement. I’m glad that advice paid off.”
Tilak’s strategy to use the pace of England’s bowlers, particularly Archer, was evident in his ability to find gaps behind the wicketkeeper with surgical precision. He elaborated on his approach to tackling the challenging Chepauk pitch.
“The wicket was double-paced and challenging. With the kind of pace their bowlers were generating, it was tough to hit square of the wicket. So, I focused on using their pace to score behind the wicket, and that worked well for me.”
With India now leading the series 2-0, Tilak’s heroics have not only given the hosts a crucial advantage but also cemented his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in the game. The third T20I in Rajkot will present another opportunity for him to extend his remarkable form.