Tilak Varma opens up on comparisons with Virat Kohli after Asia Cup success

Indian batter Tilak Varma said it is a matter of pride to be compared with Virat Kohli, but added his focus is to win matches for the team. After Varma scored a match-winning knock of 69 runs off just 53 balls in the high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, he has been compared with the legendary batter.

Experts like Irfan Pathan and Sadagopan Ramesh likened Varma with Kohli and praised the left-handed batter for finishing the game like the former Indian captain.

India was under the pump in the Asia Cup final as they were reduced to 20-3 in the run-chase of 147 however Varma was able to get his team over the line.

“It is always a matter of pride when you get spoken in the same breath as a legend like Virat bhai. But my focus is just winning the matches for the country,” Varma said at a press conference on Tuesday, as quoted by PTI.

Meanwhile, Varma revealed he was continuously sledged by Pakistan players in the final clash, but he wanted his bat to do all the talking.

“During the match, I was just focusing on my basics, I was not ready to answer them. Whatever I want to tell them I told them after the match and not when the game was going on. There were a lot of things happening in the middle but I can’t reveal all of them. Those things happen in India vs Pakistan matches and they are part of the game. But our focus was on winning the match,” he said.

The southpaw further added that his real focus is to win the T20 World Cup with the team.

“I am happy that I could make India win the Asia Cup. I started playing cricket after the 2011 World Cup. The (T20) World Cup is going to take place soon. That is my real aim. I will get sleep only after I win the World Cup,” Tilak added

India will next take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series.