Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has expressed his views on Tilak Varma’s exceptional match-winning knock in the second T20I against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday, October 24.
Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Jadeja highlighted Tilak’s six off the last ball of the 19th over turned the game in India’s favour, easing India’s 181-run chase. Notably, India finished off the game in 19.5 overs with four wickets in hand.
“This was a massive moment. You keep seeing fours and sixes getting hit, but to do so at that stage, because it was the last ball. You needed 17 runs at that time. Nitish Kumar Reddy was at the other end. You were wondering whether you should retain strike or not,” the former India captain said.
“You saw the bowler’s mindset. He bowled it so wide outside the off-stump. He wanted the over to end somehow. The game turned there totally. There is a difference of only six runs between 11 and 17, but if you have to finish it in six balls, that’s an impact. Had that six not been hit, you would have needed seven runs off the last two balls. So that was a very crucial shot,” he added.
Further, Jadeja showered praise on Tilak for anchoring the innings when Naman Dhir was going for shots. However, Tilak took the aggressor role in the death overs to propel India to a thrilling win with his unbeaten 51 off 26 balls.
“If you divide his innings into two halves, he scored 51 runs off 26 balls, but he was on 10 runs off nine balls. Naman Dhir was hitting at that stage, and he (Tilak) had the belief that this total would also be chased if he stayed till the end. He turned the game in the next 15-16 balls. It only happens when you have the belief,” he said.
“In whatever I have seen of him, when the opposition stops bowling length and becomes defensive, his game is such that he picks the yorkers, which the entire world gets stuck against, very well. He hit outstanding shots. He hasn’t done this for the first time,” Jadeja concluded.
