Former Indian selector MSK Prasad recently endorsed Tilak Varma as a potential X-factor for India at the upcoming World Cup.

India were chasing 150. When debutant Tilak arrived at the crease, the score read 28-2 off 4.5 overs. They seemed to be headed for nowhere.

When he hit his second ball for six, he caught the attention of the viewers, and of Alzarri Joseph, who was on the receiving end. By the time his third ball sailed over the ropes, he had everyone hooked. He had announced his arrival at international cricket in style and then some.

In the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies, his first in international cricket, Tilak has shown that he belongs at this level. From taking on fast bowlers right from the word go inside the powerplay to attacking spin in the middle overs to playing a supporting act when a partner is going great guns at the other end, Tilak has shown maturity beyond his age – which happens to be just 20 by the way.

Naturally, it has resulted in calls for including him in the upcoming ODI World Cup plans for India. While a lot of it has been a knee-jerk reaction to three good knocks in T20Is, there is enough substance behind the idea to give it a realistic shot, especially with all the uncertainty surrounding the availability of first-choice players.

Tilak also provides an added dimension with his part-time off-spin. India have struggled to find batters who can bowl since Kedar Jadhav. They do not have an off-spinner in their World Cup plans either. Tilak fits nicely into that box and can provide a crucial matchup against left-handers through the middle overs.

The chief factor going against Tilak is lack of international experience: he is currently on his first tour with the senior team, is yet to turn 21, and all his performances at the top level have come in the T20 format. He does, however, boast of an impressive List A record – 1,236 runs from 25 games at an average of 56.18 and a strike rate of 102 with five fifties and five hundreds.

Giving him a go in the Asia Cup won’t be the worst thing to do. If he impresses, and if the first-choice players have not recovered – or don’t seem to be in the best of touches post-comeback – a call can be made on him for the World Cup.

He has been named in the squad for the Asian Games that will run from September 28 to October 8, partially overlapping with the first week of the World Cup. There is no clarity yet on whether players selected for the Asian Games can be named in World Cup squads yet, but if they can, he might just be worth the punt.

India have been known for erring on the side of safety and experience while picking squads for major tournaments, and may do the same this time as well. But Tilak ticks too many boxes to be ignored without a thought. A struggling, uncertain middle-order. An ODI World Cup in the subcontinent. A left-handed batter who can bowl part-time spin and is a livewire on the field. Make of that what you will.