Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has showered praise on Tilak Varma after the Men in Blue registered a comprehensive 90-run win at the Harare Sports Club, on Saturday. With this win, India was able to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series.
Varma has been under scrutiny for his low strike rate in the recent past but answered his critics in style. The southpaw scored a majestic knock of 60 runs off just 29 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes.
He added 94 runs off 43 balls for the fourth wicket with Ishan Kishan, and the duo played a key role in helping India post 219 runs on the board.
“If the team had to reach 219, Tilak Varma’s contribution was necessary. You would turn back and say it’s Zimbabwe. A guy can only score runs against whichever team is there in front of him. Batting down the order is not easy. He tries to accelerate. He is doing his bit, and a little patience is required,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“It won’t work out if we ask for a player to be dropped after every series. From that point of view, this Tilak Varma knock was a slight reminder of sorts that a little more confidence should be shown in him. He has been trolled a lot as to why he has been kept in the team. He is doing his job, and he is doing a difficult job,” he added.
On the other hand, Kishan continued his rich form in 2026, as he scored a brilliant knock of 81 runs off just 44 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes. Chopra also praised the wicket-keeper batter for his impressive knock.
“When two players get out early, it becomes slightly difficult. However, Ishan Kishan came after that, and he was looking very good for a century. 17 balls were still left when he got out. However, when you play aggressively, you don’t play for milestones. You think less about them. You only think about maximizing, and that is exactly what Ishan Kishan was doing,” he said.
The renowned commentator said he would have wanted Rinku Singh to bat at one drop if the openers had added a good alliance but it wasn’t to be the case as Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were dismissed cheaply.
“Had we had a good opening partnership, I would have asked Ishan not to be sent and Rinku to be sent instead because you have selected him and not given him chances thus far. However, when two early wickets fell, you had to send Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had to come because it was a rebuilding stage. So Ishan Kishan came and hit so much, and said, ‘This is my time,’” Chopra observed.
The third and final T20I between India and Zimbabwe will take place at Harare on Sunday.
