Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody is happy with Tilak Varma’s selection for the upcoming Asia Cup. Moody is impressed with the temperament, which the left-hander has shown in his young International career.
Varma scored 343 runs in 11 matches of IPL 2023 at an average of 42.88 and a strike rate of 164.11 while playing for Mumbai Indians. Thus, he earned his maiden T20I call-up for the West Indies tour after two impressive seasons in the IPL. Varma was able to grab his chance with both hands in the five-match T20I series, top-scoring for India with 173 runs.
Furthermore, 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.
Moody added that the 20-year-old has looked calm at the crease and he has the right temperament to succeed at the top level.
On Star Sports/ESPN Cricinfo’s ‘Selection Day Live’ program, Moody said, “There’s one thing that I look out for from a coach’s perspective – temperament. There are so many players who have got oodles amounts of talent and skill with bat in hand. When it comes to game time, when it comes to game situations, you look at temperament.”
“What we have seen over the last 12 months or so with Tilak Varma, with the IPL, and with his recent outings with the Indian team, is a person that is boasting that confidence and that calmness in character. That goes a long way to a domestic player transitioning into an international player,” Moody opined.
Moody added that composure and character are important to succeed at the top level and not many domestic players have these characteristics.
“A lot of players fall short of that mark. Very good domestic players, but once you get exposed on the international stage, all that skill and talent counts for very little. It’s all to do with composure and character.
The World Cup winner added Varma has got an abundance of important things and he is ready for the International level.
“It appears so far that Tilak Varma has got an abundance of the things that are really important to make it on an international stage. I think that has been the shining light and that’s why he’s in that’s squad,” Moody elaborated.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.
