Indian middle-order batter Tilak Varma has credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak for his heroics in the second T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on Saturday, October 24.
Speaking at the post-match presentation after being adjudged the player of the match for his unbeaten 51 off 26 with six fours and a six at a strike rate of 196.15 in the 181-run chase, Tilak revealed the coaching staff’s message that inspired him to propel his side over the winning line.
“At that stage (when India lost five wickets), I was just thinking about playing till the end. Just before today’s game, I was talking with Coach Gautam sir and Sitanshu Kotak Sir. I was talking with both of them, and they said one thing that we all believe, and the whole India believes in you. If you stay till the end, then you will win the game for us. So that’s what was going through my mind. I wanted to take the game as deep as possible, and at the end of the day, again, what everyone has believed and have done. So I’m really proud of myself,” Tilak said after the game.
Furthermore, he praised Naman Dhir for his quickfire 31 off 17 balls, which included one four and three sixes at a strike rate of 182.35. He also revealed the message he conveyed to the all-rounder during the crucial phase of the innings, adding that he and Dhir were confident of chasing down the target within 18 overs.
“I was telling Naman that we’ll stay till the end, and especially the wicket was slightly slower today, compared to the last game. So I was telling Naman that we’ll push hard in running between the wickets when spinners were bowling. So that’s what our plan was, and we pushed hard when they were bowling, and unfortunately Naman got out in the last over of Mitchell Santner. Otherwise, I think we would have finished the game in 18th over. So credit goes to Naman as well, the way he batted, but after that, you know, the Hyderabadi boys are in play today, Nitish Reddy and myself, and we are really happy that we finished the game,” he added.
