Key Highlights
- Tilak Varma returns early from injury in T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa.
- Varma’s performance boosts India’s team morale ahead of the tournament.
- BCCI and Centre of Excellence praised for accelerating Varma’s recovery process.
- Varma expresses gratitude towards BCCI and CoE, highlighting his World Cup dream.
The Early Return
Tilak Varma, the India all-rounder, marked a spirited return from injury in a T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa. The defending champions defeated the Proteas by 30 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
A Timing That Surprised Even Varma
Varma admitted he did not expect to be back on the field this early, crediting the BCCI and Centre of Excellence (CoE) for his accelerated recovery. “To be honest, I didn’t expect that I will be back on the field this early,” said a visibly emotional Varma in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Momentum from CoE
The Centre of Excellence played an integral role in Varma’s recovery, allowing him to return to action sooner than anticipated. This early return has added fresh energy to India’s campaign as they prepare for the World Cup opener against the USA on Saturday.
Varma’s comeback is seen as a testament to the BCCI’s commitment to player welfare and the success of their CoE program, which has been pivotal in nurturing and rehabilitating injured cricketers. The team’s batting energy during the warm-up match pushed Varma to play freely, inspired by Ishan Kishan’s aggressive intent.
Boosting Team Morale
Entering a packed stadium chanting his name gave Varma an emotional lift, boosting him significantly. “When I entered the ropes and everyone was shouting ‘Tilak, Tilak,’ I really felt nice,” he added, describing the electric atmosphere even during a warm-up game.
The way Ishan and Abhishek batted encouraged Varma to contribute more aggressively: “The way Ishan was batting, the way Abhishek and everyone else was going, I was like, ‘Mai bhi maarunga jaake.’ The vibe was really terrific, and yeah — Tilak and the Indian team are ready for the World Cup,” he said.
On the field, Varma backed up his words with a brisk 45 off 19 balls as India piled up 240 for five. The bowlers then held their nerve to restrict South Africa to 210, sealing a confident win. With his comeback timed perfectly, Varma’s return has added fresh energy to India’s campaign.
