Tilak Varma reveals chat with Suryakumar Yadav night before 3rd IND vs SA T20I: 'I told him...'

Tilak Varma reveals chat with Suryakumar Yadav night before 3rd IND vs SA T20I

Team India are enjoying supreme form in white-ball cricket, especially in the shortest format of the game. After winning the T20 World Cup, which Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were part of, the Men In Blue have secured two series, one against Sri Lanka and then Bangladesh. The unit led by Suryakumar Yadav have kept the momentum intact as they are currently touring South Africa for a four-match T20I series. India are leading 2-1 at the moment after three encounters and will now look to win another series that too on South African soil.

Tilak Varma was the star performer from the Indian camp in the third T20I played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday. The batter, who was promoted to the number 3 position, produced a superb show with the bat and became the second youngest Indian to slam a ton in the shortest format. Varma returned unbeaten on 107 off 56 balls, an innings laced with eight boundaries and seven maximums. His effort helped India piled 219/6 in 20 overs after being invited to bat first by Proteas skipper Aiden Markram. The hosts in response fell short by 11 runs and managed 208/7 in 20 overs.

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Varma in the post-innings interval revealed how he and Abhishek Sharma, the architects of Indian win, were under pressure. Abhishek, who failed to get going in recent outings and was running out of time, scored a 25-ball 50, featuring three fours and five sixes.

Post India's victory, Varma also revealed his chat with skipper Suryakumar a night before the match. Suryakumar sacrificed his position, which was occupied by Varma, who stood up to the task and exceeded expectations with his delivery. Varma was seen celebrating his ton with a flying kiss, which the batter revealed was for his skipper. "It was for 'SKY', our skipper because he gave me a chance to bat at number three," Varma told reporters after the match.

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Sharing further details on the conversation that took place between him and his skipper, Varma said: "I love batting at number three, but in last two matches, I played at number four. Last night he came to my room and said that 'You will bat No. 3' and he said it's a good opportunity. Go and express yourself. I told him, 'You have given me an opportunity, I will show you on the ground'."

'Bindass khelna'

Varma also revealed the message he received from interim head coach VVS Laxman before the match. "The team backed us even when we flopped." The skipper and management (interim head coach VVS Laxman) said: "Bindaas khelna Agar wicket gire tab bhi (Play freely even if you lose a wicket)."