‘It’s always been my strength’ - Tilak Varma reveals his love for red-ball cricket

Tilak Varma struck an unbeaten 116 off 250 balls in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy semifinal, steering his South Zone team from a precarious position of 88 for 5. In the second innings, he added an unbeaten 51 off 79 balls as South Zone secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory. The 23-year-old was named Player of the Match for his performance.

Speaking after the match, Tilak expressed his deep affection for the longer format of the game. The India T20I vice-captain opened up about his commitment to red-ball cricket and how it remains his primary strength despite his recent involvement in white-ball cricket for the national team.

“I have always loved red-ball cricket. I had never dreamt of playing white-ball [cricket] for India, but it’s God’s plan that I have played T20 and One-day for India. But my strength is the red-ball game,” said Tilak as quoted by The Hindu.

Tilak's first-class record underscores his credentials in the longer format. Across 24 matches, he has accumulated 1729 runs at an average of 55.77 with a strike-rate of 52.45, including eight centuries and six half-centuries. These statistics reflect his consistency and ability to build substantial innings in the red-ball arena.

His journey through white-ball cricket has been rapid since 2022, but Tilak has remained committed to red-ball cricket whenever opportunities arise. He has balanced his international white-ball commitments with domestic and county cricket during breaks in the schedule. This dual focus demonstrates his determination to maintain his edge in both formats.

“From 2022, I have played a lot of white ball due to IPL and other things, but before that, I have gone through the grind in red ball. No one has seen me since I was 10. It’s always been my strength and it’s there in my blood. In the last three-four years, I am not getting enough time because of the international schedule. But whenever I have had a week, or a break, I have played county and domestic cricket,” said Tilak.

South Zone advanced to face East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final starting September 6, with Tilak looking to continue his strong form in red-ball cricket.