Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Tilak Varma for playing an aggressive knock in the second T20I against Zimbabwe. He added that the Indian vice-captain has been trolled a lot and questions have been raised
about his place in the team as well. Tilak smashed an unbeaten 60 off 29 balls as India set Zimbabwe a 220-run target in Harare as well before bowling out the hosts for 129 to register a 90-run win and seal the three-match series as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “If the team had to reach 219, Tilak Varma’s contribution was necessary. You would turn back and say it’s Zimbabwe. A guy can only score runs against whichever team is there in front of him. Batting down the order is not easy. He tries to accelerate. He is doing his bit, and a little patience is required.”

“It won’t work out if we ask for a player to be dropped after every series. From that point of view, this Tilak Varma knock was a slight reminder of sorts that a little more confidence should be shown in him. He has been trolled a lot as to why he has been kept in the team. He is doing his job, and he is doing a difficult job,” he further added.

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However, Aakash Chopra also praised Ishan Kishan for scoring a quickfire 44-ball 81 and for continuing to bat aggressively and not looking to play for a hundred as well.

“When two players get out early, it becomes slightly difficult. However, Ishan Kishan came after that, and he was looking very good for a century. 17 balls were still left when he got out. However, when you play aggressively, you don’t play for milestones. You think less about them. You only think about maximizing, and that is exactly what Ishan Kishan was doing,” he said.

“Had we had a good opening partnership, I would have asked Ishan not to be sent and Rinku to be sent instead because you have selected him and not given him chances thus far. However, when two early wickets fell, you had to send Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had to come because it was a rebuilding stage. So Ishan Kishan came and hit so much, and said, ‘This is my time,'” he concluded.