Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Saba Karim has put his weight behind Tilak Varma to succeed in the One-Day format. Varma had impressed in his maiden T20I series against the West Indies, top-scoring with 173 runs in five games for India.
After his impressive show, Varma was added to the 17-man squad for the Asia Cup. Varma has scored 1236 runs in 25 List A matches at an impressive average of 56.18 with the help of five centuries and as many fifties while playing for Hyderabad.
The youngster showed great temperament in the series against the West Indies and he definitely looks apart. Varma has shown the skills to go a long way in his career and he will look to deliver the goods in the upcoming Asia Cup, if he gets a chance in the playing XI.
“At times, the selectors and the team management can back a player after what they have seen in the ground. There’s no harm in picking a player from T20 format to One-day format. One should also not forget that Tilak has had some kind of experience in List A matches,” Saba Karim said on Jio Cinema.
“He has played about 12-15 (25) games and averages about 50 which means he knows what to do in one-day cricket. For him to transition from T20 to one-day cricket should not take too long because of the experience he has had. At times, selectors go by that kind of criterion,” Saba added.
With Tilak Varma getting his maiden ODI call-up for the Asia Cup, Karim added that it shows the selectors as well as the team management have faith in him to succeed at the top level.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Tilak. For him to experience the dressing room, for him to understand the intricacies of international cricket, how to prepare in different conditions, it will come in very handy,” he explained.
“It’s a very good buildup for Tilak. Whether he is part of the World Cup squad or not, whether he gets an opportunity here (Asia Cup) or not, irrespective of all that, for him to be given an opportunity, looking at his T20 performance speaks a lotIt tells that the selection committee and the team management really believe in him. It tells us that he can become a future all-format player,” Saba continued.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.
