Former India cricketer RP Singh reckons Tilak Varma can fill the void of a left-handed middle-order batter in India’s T20I side as well. However, the West Indies set India a 150-run target in the first T20I in Tarouba, Trinidad, on Thursday, August 3. Varma smashed a 22-ball 39 in the chase, but his knock went in vain as India failed to win.

During a discussion on JioCinema, RP Singh said: “It was an extremely good knock. I feel the future is hidden in him. We are all searching for a left-handed middle-order batter and Tilak Varma can be seen from that angle. He opened his account with a six and then hit a second six as well. The best six was the third one that he hit over cover. It is not that easy to hit a six over extra cover.”

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RP Singh also added that Tilak Varma was the only Indian batter to take the attack to the opposition bowlers with ease. Varma scored his runs at a strike rate of 177.27, with the help of two fours and three sixes as well. Notably, he has a good overall record in T20 cricket where he has smashed 1457 runs in 48 games at an average of 37.35 and a strike rate of 143.26 as well.

He added: “I agree that he could have built a bigger partnership but he was the only batter to score more runs than the number of deliveries he faced. Everyone else was playing at a run-a-ball. Tilak Varma alone batted differently.”

Meanwhile, Abhishek Nayar also praised Tilak Varma for his knock. He said, “A lot of determination was seen in his batting. It has been his hallmark, not now, but for a long time. The first shot he played today, it looks good but it is an extremely difficult shot.”

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The former Indian all-rounder further added, “He has talent and potential but the best thing about him is that he is consistent. Once he starts scoring runs, he keeps on doing that in all circumstances and conditions. He scores runs even in difficult conditions. So he is a kid for the future.”