Tilak Varma Impresses Despite India's Loss, Credits Rahul Dravid for Guidance

The middle order batsman for India, Tilak Varma, acknowledged that the team fell about 10 runs short with the bat after suffering their second straight loss in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies.

At the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday, the home team successfully completed the 153-run target with two wickets in hand and seven balls remaining.

India made 152 for 7 after choosing to bat after winning the toss and was largely helped by Tilak's 41-ball 51, which was his first half-century in international cricket. When India was struggling at 18 for 2 in the fourth over, the southpaw came in to bat.

He then revived the innings alongside Shubman Gill (23-ball 27) and Hardik Pandya (18-ball 24). The West Indies won the run chase thanks to Nicholas Pooran's 40-ball 67, which helped them surpass what appeared to be a competitive total on a difficult pitch.

India was constantly playing catch-up even though Hardik Pandya's triple strike and Yuzvendra Chahal's double kept them in the game.

Tilak heaped praise on Pooran's effort and said, "The wicket was on the slower side and two-paced. We thought 150-160 would've been a good score. Maybe we fell 10 runs short, but it was a good performance (by our batters).

"Of course, credit to Pooran because he has batted really well. He put the pressure on the bowlers. We knew that if we could get one wicket, we could save the game because the wicket was on the slower side and it wasn't that easy to bat. It was a bowler's wicket. Unfortunately, it's such a funny game, it can turn around and we could've made a comeback."

Tilak also acknowledged that the West Indian bowlers made good use of the conditions through variation. While Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, and Akeal Hosein each claimed a hat trick, all three of their frontline bowlers were also economical, preventing the Indian innings from gaining the momentum it required.

"They bowled really well," he said. "They used their slower ones and hard lengths really well. They used the wind conditions really well, credit goes to them. We'll sit and have a chat and come back stronger."

Tilak has already made an impact on the global stage, despite the fact that the team has lost both of its opening games. He has spent a lot of time talking about the game with the Indian head coach even after the practice sessions on the Caribbean tour while in the company of Rahul Dravid, who was also his coach when he played cricket as an Under-19 player.

Opening up on his discussions with Dravid, he said, "I've been with Rahul sir since Under-19 world cup. He always tells me to follow my basics and spend as much time at the wicket. He always tells me to enjoy my game. Hardik bhai was also telling me the same thing. He told me you've done well in IPL and domestic, so just enjoy your game."