NEW DELHI: India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma has showered praise on young batting talent Tilak Varma, commending him for his maturity, mindset and ability to handle pressure at the highest level.
Speaking on JioHotstar's show Captain Rohit Sharma's Roadmap, Rohit reflected on India's long-awaited return to ICC glory in 2024, when the team lifted the T20 World Cup to end an 11-year title drought since the Champions Trophy triumph in 2013.
During the discussion, Rohit singled out Tilak - his teammate for both India and Mumbai Indians - highlighting the youngster's composure and competitive edge.
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According to the former Indian skipper, Tilak's attitude and temperament already mark him out as someone capable of rising to the occasion in high-stakes games, a trait that defines "big-match players."
"I think he has something different. Attitude is superb. The temperament is, most importantly, the knock in the Asia Cup final (against Pakistan last year), unbelievable. He is already showing signs that he is a big match player," he said.
The left-handed batter scored a match-winning unbeaten 69 in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, batting at number four in a tense chase of 147. Comfortable in that role, he has consistently delivered at the position, with his numbers underlining his impact - 490 runs in 14 innings at an average of 54.44, a strike rate of over 128, and two half-centuries.
Tilak is expected to play a vital role for India at the top of the order in the upcoming T20 World Cup, given his impressive consistency in the format.
In 40 appearances, spanning 37 innings, the left-hander has piled up 1,183 runs at a remarkable average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09, a tally that includes two centuries and six half-centuries.
