Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Tilak Varma for playing a blazing knock in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Zimbabwe. He also stated that the left-handed batter might not have been given another chance as well. However, Tilak smashed an unbeaten 44 off 16 balls as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “This was the only chance. If he had wasted this chance, he might not have gotten another because it seems like our team is slightly eager to change things, or else you wouldn’t have left Rinku Singh out so quickly. You could have moved Suryakumar Yadav to No. 3 and Tilak to No. 4, and the left-right combination could have been managed.”

“Sikandar Raza didn’t come to bowl in the powerplay in any case, even though there were two left-handers in the middle. I felt that if Tilak Varma had not made the most of this opportunity, things would have changed completely, but he was good,” he further added.

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However, Aakash Chopra also stated that Tilak Varma wasn’t circumspect at all in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Zimbabwe as well.

“He played with a lot of freedom. In fact, he was even telling when he came for the post-match interview that he didn’t analyze anything before the game and was just focusing on watching the ball, reacting to it, and trying to score runs,” he said.

“It seemed like he was liberated. The shackles that were tied, 41 percent dot balls, and suddenly, he came out liberated. He played a scoop and then hit a six over cover, which was extremely beautiful. He made his identity after this performance. He grabbed his opportunity with both hands, and the way he constructed his innings was also a delight to watch,” Aakash Chopra concluded.