Sunil Gavaskar hails Tilak Varma, says he treated Shaheen Shah Afridi like a net-bowler spinner after Asia Cup Super 4 clash

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar showered praise on Tilak Varma after India registered a six-wicket win against Pakistan in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup at Dubai on Sunday. Varma added the finishing touches in the run-chase of 172 as he scored 30 runs off 19 balls. 

The southpaw scored two fours and as many maximums as he scored his runs at a strike rate of 157.89. When India needed eight runs to win, Varma smashed Afridi for a six and a four to help his team get over the line and Gavaskar said the left-hander treated Shaheen Afridi as a net-bowler spinner.

Furthermore, Gavaskar lauded the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, who added 105 runs to lay down the perfect foundation in the run-chase. While Abhishek top-scored with 74 runs off just 39 balls, Gill scored a crucial knock of 47 runs off 28 deliveries.

Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar, “When the second match came along, there was an improved batting performance by Pakistan in the first half before the loss of three wickets put them on the back foot again, and despite getting big runs in the final three overs, they were 20 runs shorter than what they would have wanted.”

He added, “India breezed to a win after a delightful opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill that took the breath away and crushed any hopes the Pakistanis had of winning the game. In the end, another super-talented batter, Tilak Varma, treated Pakistan’s premier bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, like a net-ball spinner and smashed him around to wrap a win with deliveries to spare.”

India will next take on Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Wednesday.