Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma, who played a match-defining cameo against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), is confident to step up for any role in the team as he can bat comfortably at the position in any given situation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Tuesday's match, the left-hander hammered 37 off only 17 balls, to bring the much-needed impetus to the innings when SRH slowed things down after the halfway mark. He along with Cameron Green (64 off 40) counter-attacked and added a 50+ stand in just 27 balls for the fourth wicket, before Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck at a crucial juncture to break the partnership by having Tilak Varma 37(17) caught at deep point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Green remaining unbeaten, MI posted 192\/5 on the board. Then, a collective bowling effort saw MI bowled SRH out for 178 and won the match by 14 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I am always comfortable playing in any situation. I have worked on my game on the ground accounting for all possible situations. I always tell the management that I am confident to bat anywhere, in any situation. So, they are also confident and hence send me out to bat," Varma said in a post-match press conference.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking on his crucial 37-run knock, Verma said he didn't want to take on spinners and was waiting for the fast bowlers to come to bowl.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I felt the wicket was light, with a turn available for the spinners. I was just thinking about the situation, what the team needs. I wanted to avoid facing the spinners and just wait to play the fast bowlers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Washy (Washington Sundar) and Mayu (Mayank Markande) were bowling well. I thought about playing them before I could charge on against the fast bowlers. I didn't want to miss an over as we have a long batting lineup. So, I charged my tank and went the way I wanted, so I am happy," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 20-year-old joined the MI last year and made an immediate impact, scoring 397 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 131.02. He has carried on his impressive form this season as well and has produced crucial knocks in four of the five games so far.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In five matches this season, he has smashed 214 runs at an average of 53.50 and a strike rate of 158.52.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When asked about the difference between the last season, his first, and the current one, Varma had one straight answer as a mature player and asserted that he has full backing from the franchise as they don't see him as a youngster and also helped him mature as a batter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The first season (2022), I was a youngster, but since then, I always had the team back me. They don't see me as a youngster or a newcomer to the team. They always help me mature as a player. So it was pretty easy for me to manage, unlike the first year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team (Mumbai Indians) treat me in a way that I never feel like I'm playing the IPL or any other tournament for the first time. Being amongst the God of Cricket (Sachin Tendulkar), the Indian captain (Rohit Sharma) and everyone, I feel confident and comfortable with them," Varma said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n