SA vs Ind – Tilak Varma asks Suryakumar Yadav for the No. 3 spot and owns it with a dazzling century

On By Littum

“More time aayega.” (My time will come.)

That’s what Tilak Varma kept telling himself when back-to-back hand injuries kept him out of the T20I tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka a few months ago. When he recovered, he had slipped down the pecking order. He was also not part of the original squad for the Bangladesh T20Is, but got a late call-up after Shivam Dube’s withdrawal with a back injury at the last minute. Tilak did not get a game in that series.

The current assignment against South Africa therefore marked his comeback in India colours. He started with 33 off 18 balls in the first T20I in Durban but managed just a run-a-ball 20 in Gqeberha.

Tilak revealed that he was under pressure coming into the third match at Centurion. If he hadn’t said it himself, no one would have guessed – such was his plan on Wednesday. He hit eight fours and seven sixes en route to an unbeaten 107 off 56 balls. That took India to 219 for 6 – just enough to give them an unassailable 2-1 lead in four matches.

During his tenure, Tilak lived to be 22 years and 5 days old second youngest to score a T20I hundred (for matches between full members). But what stood out in his bank was the maturity with which he changed gears.

In the first two T20Is, he had batted at No. 4. Here, with Sanju Samson dismissed for his second consecutive duck and the night just two balls old, Tilak walked in at No. 3.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav later said it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. “In Gqeberha, he (Tilak) came to my room and said, ‘Give me the opportunity to bat at No. 3. Let me express myself’.”

Taking his time, Suryakumar told Tilak on Tuesday night, “You have to hit No. 3… Express yourself.”

In keeping with India’s recent brand of cricket, Tilak took the attack to Marco Jansen. He hit the second ball he faced past point for four before leaping down the track to send the left-arm quick over deep third for a six.

However, the course was a bit two-step. In Jansen’s next over, Tilak attempted a pull but was late to the shot. The ball brushed his helmet and flew over the wicketkeeper. Later in the over, Jansen dug a slower one into the pitch. This time Tilak was early in his move and missed the ball completely.

Still, he picked up two fours in the next two overs and reached 26 off 19 balls at the end of the powerplay. With Abhishek Sharma having an easier time at the other end, India were cruising at 70 for 1 after six.

As soon as the fielding restrictions were eased, Aiden Markam entered the field. With two left-handed batsmen in the middle, it was a good idea to sneak in an over of offspin. This is where Tilak showed his brilliance, turning his stance and sweeping Markram over backward point for a six.

But when Abhishek and Suryakumar got out in successive overs, Tilak realized he would have to bat deep. “It wasn’t easy for the new batter to attack right away,” he later said. “I wanted to take some time. I wanted one partnership – that’s what I discussed with Hardik (Pandya) bhai and Rinku (Singh).”

Tilak was on 45 off 27 balls when Abhishek got out. Off his next nine balls he scored only ten runs and for the first time in the match India’s scoring rate fell below 10 an over. So when Keshav Maharaj started his last over – the 15th innings – Tilak knew it was time to shift into a higher gear and cash in on the game.

Till then he had faced only three balls from Maharaj and had scored three singles from them. Now he got 4, 6, 4, 1. In the next run Gerald Coetzee missed his lengths, his first ball too full, his third too short. Tilak sent both over the boundary line.

Although Rinku scored only 8 off 13 balls, Tilak’s acceleration ensured that India’s innings did not fizzle out as it did in the first T20I. He brought up his hundred off 51 balls and celebrated by pointing – and then blowing a kiss – at the Indian dugout. His time had come.

“I can’t put my feelings into words,” he said. “It was my dream to score a hundred for the country and I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. To come back from injury and score a hundred is unbelievable.

“It (the celebration) was for Surya because he gave me this opportunity to bat at No. 3. I had told him that I had to perform. That’s why I pointed him out.”

Suryakumar was also effusive in his praise for Tilak. “I knew what he was capable of and he did. Going forward, he’s definitely hitting No. 3. He asked for it; he delivered; he’s earned it.”

Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo