Former Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik heaped praise on Indian middle-order batter Tilak Varma for propelling India over the winning line in the tough 181-run chase against New Zealand on Saturday, October 24.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik noted that Tilak thrives under pressure, highlighting it as a key attribute of a successful finisher. He also praised the batter for his ability to deliver consistently while batting in the middle order.
“This was a tough, tough chase, because this is a huge ground, the pitch was in favor of the bowlers more than we are used to seeing, and he did not get off to a flier at the start. Despite that, he got the job done. Now, that, for me, is a very special skill,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
“One thing that he has shown time and again, under pressure he knows how to thrive. It is an important core skill of a finisher and why he has been so successful in the period where he has batted at No.5 and 6 is because he has the courage to believe that if he is there till the end, he can score the runs,” he added.
Further, Karthik stated that batters partnering Tilak need to understand that he takes time to settle in before accelerating, adding that Tilak avoids taking unnecessary risks early on and backs himself to hit consecutive boundaries in the final two or three overs.
“It is important for the batters batting around him to realise that he is someone who takes a few balls at the start. He is not going to take a huge risk unless it is the last 2-3 overs of the game, because he backs himself to get back-to-back boundaries quite easily at the back end of the innings. He plays shots which is very tough to set fields for,” Dinesh Karthik said.
