The DY Patil Stadium saw some incredible hitting yesterday. Tilak Varma was fresh from a frustrating injury layoff. He did not just return. He announced his readiness for the T20 World Cup with a powerful 45 off 19 balls against South Africa.
5 Moments from Tilak Varma’s 45(19) That Scream ‘World Cup Winner’
Cricket pundits often throw around the next Yuvraj Singh label loosely. However, Varma’s execution in this warm-up fixture showed he’s the real deal. He mirrored the 2007 and 2011 World Cup hero’s poise, bat swing, and sheer dominance.
Here are five specific moments from his innings where Varma brought back memories of India’s greatest left-handed match-winner.
1. The High Backlift Against Marco Jansen
Yuvraj Singh terrified fast bowlers with a high, menacing backlift. This allowed him to generate tremendous bat speed. In the eighth over, Varma faced Marco Jansen. Jansen was the tall left-arm pacer standing in his way.
As Jansen ran in, Varma raised his bat high. He almost pointed it toward the slip cordon. He brought it down with a fluid, whip-like motion. He sent a length ball soaring over long-on. This wasn’t a slog. That high backlift gave him perfect timing. It looked exactly like Yuvraj’s six-hitting style against Stuart Broad in 2007.
2. The Nonchalant Flick Over Square Leg
Few sights in cricket rival Yuvraj Singh flicking a 145kph delivery over square leg with barely any foot movement. Varma replicated this arrogance in the ninth over. He stood still. He trusted his hand-eye coordination. He simply rolled his wrists over a rising delivery.
The ball sailed into the stands. Tilak Varma did not scramble for balance or over-commit. He simply stood and delivered. That stillness at the crease separates good players from the greats. Tilak Varma showed plenty of it.
3. Domination of the Left-Arm Spinner
Yuvraj Singh feasted on left-arm spin. He often used his feet to disrupt their length. When George Linde came into the attack, Tilak Varma did not wait. He skipped down the track. He converted a good length ball into a half-volley. Then, he lofted it inside-out over extra cover.
This shot requires immense core strength and precision. Most batters would sweep. Instead, Varma, like Yuvraj, went for the more elegant, risky drive. He pierced the gap perfectly.
4. The Check-Drive Six
One of the most striking moments occurred when Varma played a check-drive for six. He checked his shot at the last second to adjust for the ball’s lack of pace. Even so, the ball still carried over the ropes.
Yuvraj famously played these shots against Australia in the 2011 Quarter-Final. Tilak Varma showed the same ability to transfer weight and generate distance. He succeeded even when not swinging at full throttle. This trait makes a middle-order batter dangerous on slowing pitches.
5. The Walk Back
Body language often reveals more than statistics. Marco Jansen finally dismissed him. Even then, Tilak Varma did not drop his head or show frustration.
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He tucked his bat under his arm. He removed his gloves. He walked off with a confident strut. He knew he had done his job. That mix of swagger and confidence defined Yuvraj Singh’s golden era. Varma walked off as a match-winner who knows he belongs on the world stage.
