NEW DELHI: Rising Indian batting star Tilak Varma is on the brink of rewriting cricketing history in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
Having struck back-to-back unbeaten centuries (107 not out and 120 not out against South Africa in November 2024), the 22-year-old could become the only player in T20I history to achieve three consecutive tons in the format.
If successful, this feat will firmly establish Tilak as a rare gem in the world of cricket.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The upcoming five-match series holds immense significance for India. Despite entering the contest as favourites, buoyed by a stellar T20I record, the team faces added pressure to maintain its dominance.
With key veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja stepping away from this format, the responsibility falls on emerging players.
Fortunately, newcomers like Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Tilak Varma have risen to the challenge, providing much-needed stability and firepower.
Tilak, in particular, has become a dependable figure in the middle order. His clean hitting and ability to anchor the innings have eased the burden on captain Suryakumar Yadav, who continues to dazzle with his own match-winning capabilities.
Another batter to watch is opener Sanju Samson, who has scored three centuries in his last five T20I outings and has a point to prove after being overlooked for the Champions Trophy squad.
On the bowling front, India will bank on the experienced Mohammed Shami and the fiery left-arm pace of Arshdeep Singh to counter England’s formidable batting order, led by Jos Buttler and Phil Salt.
England, under coach Brendon McCullum, boast a strong lineup, with returning bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood adding depth to their pace attack.
