Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to promote Tilak Varma to the number three spot in India’s T20I series against South Africa has turned out to be a masterstroke. In a bold move, Suryakumar, who himself had grown into the responsibility of the number three position in the wake of Virat Kohli’s exit from the T20 World Cup, stepped down and allowed the youngster to shine. And shine he did, with Tilak Varma delivering two back-to-back centuries in the final two T20Is of the series, propelling India to a dominant series win.
Suryakumar, who had been India’s mainstay at number three, saw it as an ideal moment for Tilak to step up. Reflecting on the change, he said: “It was actually running in my mind that there has been a time when one man has batted consistently at number three and done wonders for India. So this was a perfect situation, a perfect opportunity for a young guy, and definitely someone like him.”
Tilak seized that opportunity with both hands, producing a memorable 107* off 56 balls in Centurion, followed by an even more spectacular 120* off just 47 balls in Johannesburg. His explosive performances included a flurry of boundaries and sixes, and his 120* helped India post the highest-ever total in South Africa—283/1.
Suryakumar, who had a direct hand in Tilak’s promotion, spoke highly of the young left-hander’s maturity and ability to take on such a responsibility at a young age. “A lot of showing a lot of promise, and we both actually spoke to each other and said I think it’s the perfect time for someone like you to bat at number three. Take that responsibility not only now but going forward as well, and he just walked the talk,” Suryakumar said, lauding Tilak’s remarkable consistency and impact on the field.
Tilak finished the series as the highest run-scorer with 280 runs in four matches, maintaining a blistering strike rate of 198.58. His performance helped India secure a commanding 3-1 series victory over the Proteas, and he has firmly established himself as a key figure in India’s future plans across all formats.
Suryakumar’s faith in Tilak paid off, and the series served as a perfect platform for the young southpaw to stake his claim in India’s T20 setup and beyond. “I hope he continues to do the same things, not only in T20 cricket but for all formats for India,” Suryakumar added, signaling that Tilak’s rise is something India will continue to nurture in the years to come.
