Tilak Varma could be an all-format India batter: Sunil Gavaskar

The Mumbai Indians had a forgettable IPL 2022 campaign where they only managed to register their first win after eight unsuccessful attempts. Even though they were off-colour this season, the five-time champions did succeed in finding some new and exceptional talents, both in their batting and bowling, with Tilak Varma being one of them.

Varma has been MI’s middle-order sensation this year, having played a few impactful knocks. Heaping praise on the emerging cricketer, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has said that he has the potential to be an all-format India batter. The cricketer-turned-cricket pundit added that the 19-year-old has got the basics right as of now.

‘He’s got the basics right’ – Sunil Gavaskar on Tilak Varma

“Rohit Sharma rightly mentioned that he (Tilak Varma) could be an all-format player for India. So now it’s up to him to work that little bit extra, get his fitness going, get a little tighter as far as the technique is concerned, and prove Rohit right,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

“He’s got the basics right. Technically, he’s right. He gets right behind the line of the ball. He’s got a straight bat, and while defending on the front foot his bat is close to the pad. So, all his basics are right,” he added.

“With all the right basics you’ve got to marry the temperament and that marriage we have seen is very good at the moment. I hope that he carries on,” said the 1983 World Cup winner.

The youngster was Mumbai Indians’ hero in the last game against arch-rivals CSK where his unbeaten 32-ball 34 helped his side register a five-wicket win in a low-scoring thriller. He has so far amassed 368 runs from 12 matches at a strike rate of 132.85, including two half-centuries. MI would be expecting yet another impactful knock from him as they lock horns with a struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on May 17.