Bengaluru, Sept 3:
India’s T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has made no secret of his ambition to play Test cricket, saying his love for the red-ball format goes back to his early years despite his rapid rise through white-ball cricket.
Tilak strengthened his case with two unbeaten knocks of 116 and 51 that helped South Zone reach the Duleep Trophy final on Wednesday. The performances came at a significant stage for the 23-year-old, who is hoping to break into India’s Test squad.
The left-hander said red-ball cricket had always been his preferred format and that he had worked extensively on his Test game from a young age.
Tilak has already established himself in India’s white-ball set-up, playing 53 T20Is and five ODIs over the last three years. His selection for those formats largely followed his performances in the Indian Premier League.
However, he said he had never abandoned red-ball cricket and had been working towards a Test opportunity for years. His biggest challenge, he added, had been finding enough time to play domestic first-class cricket because of his international commitments.
With opportunities potentially opening up in India’s Test middle order, including at No. 3 and No. 6, Tilak’s recent Duleep Trophy performances could strengthen his credentials.
He also believes that a player with a strong red-ball technique can adapt more easily across formats. According to Tilak, moving from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket is generally easier than making the transition in the opposite direction.
Tilak now faces a decision over his participation in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai from September 6 to 10. He has also been named in India’s T20I squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan, beginning in New Delhi on September 13.
Tilak said he would like to play the Duleep Trophy final before joining the national team. The short gap between the final and the Afghanistan series could make the schedule demanding, but he said he was ready to make the effort if the selectors and team management agreed.
He also expressed hope that Vidwath Kaverappa, who suffered an ankle problem during South Zone’s semi-final, would recover in time for the title clash.