Bengaluru: Tilak Varma is nowhere near any conversation to play Test cricket for India. But India’s T20I vice-captain’s burning desire to play the longest format becomes quite obvious when he talks about it.
After leading South Zone to the Duleep Trophy final with two influential knocks (116 n.o. & 51 n.o.) against North, the 23-year-old admitted that he had never dreamt of playing limited-overs cricket for the country.
“I have always loved to play red-ball cricket. I never dreamt of playing the white-ball formats for India, but that was God’s plan. I made my ODI and T20I debut, but my strength is red-ball cricket,” Tilak told reporters at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence here on Wednesday.
“I have also worked hard on it. But from 2022, I started to play a lot of white-ball cricket due to the IPL, but before that, I have put in the grind. It is always my strength, and the love for Test cricket is in my blood.”
Since making his first-class debut in 2018, Tilak has just played 24 games. According to him, it is purely due to his jam-packed national team commitments.
“For me, I want to play more red-ball games, but unfortunately, when you are playing for your country, everyone wants to play (every game). Right now, I am available for T20Is and ODIs. And for domestic cricket, I have not had much time.”
Tilak, though, asserted that he always grabs any opportunity to showcase his red-ball credentials with ambitions of playing Tests.
“For the last three to four years, I have been trying to play the Ranji Trophy, but I am not getting the time… Whenever I have had time, I am trying to play domestic cricket as much as possible. I want to score runs there and come into the Indian side. If there is a slot, the selectors might give a chance, otherwise, my work is to keep scoring runs,” Tilak added.
‘Want to play final’
Despite the Afghanistan T20Is starting from September 13, Tilak ‘wants’ to play the Duleep Trophy final scheduled from September 6-10 in Chennai before flying to Delhi, which would give him two days to prepare for the series.
“I want to play the final, but I don’t know. Afghanistan series starts on 13th, so I am ready to play the final. We will get two days of break in between, so even if I report on 11th, I can practise one day and go for the game. That’s how I feel, but it is up to the selectors and the management. Right now, I don’t know, but we will have a chat.”