Watch: Tilak Varma started off his international career with two sixes in his first three balls against Alzarri Joseph during the first T20I between the two teams on Thursday (August 3).
Varma impressed with his returns in the Indian Premier League this year, where he ended with 343 runs in 11 games at an average of 42.88 with a strike rate over 164. The left-hander was given a maiden international call-up for the Windies T20Is following his heroics and was drafted into the XI straightaway, making his debut at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
Chasing 150 on a slow wicket, Varma walked into bat at No.4, with the scorecard reading 28-2 in 4.5 overs. With Suryakumar Yadav also struggling at the other end, Varma took it upon himself to break the shackles, as he went after Joseph early on in his innings.
On the third ball of the sixth over, the left-hander bent his back leg before dispatching a 143kph delivery over deep mid-wicket to get off the mark in style. Joseph shorted his length on the next ball, a quicker one this time, at 146kph, but Varma nonchalantly pulled away the hip-high ball over deep square leg to get the run chase running again.
He eventually made 39 off 22, with a strike rate of 177.27 in an innings where none of the other top six batters could score over run-a-ball. His efforts went in vain as India failed to get across the line, falling short by four runs.
Watch debutant Tilak Varma’s sixes here:
For India viewers:
Takes a blinder.
Hits back to back sixes to kick off his innings.
A dashing debut for Tilak Varma 😎#INDvWIAdFreeonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/VpcKOyfMSR— FanCode (@FanCode) August 3, 2023
