Tilak Varma, the left-handed batter, is making his ODI debut for India against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four game as skipper Rohit Sharma revealed during the toss on Friday.
In the dead rubber match prior to the final on Sunday, India announced five changes to the lineup from the previous match. Meanwhile, the team management gave a chance to the players who haven’t got a game thus far.
India made five changes to their line-up with superstars Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav paving the way for the other players. Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna made the team for the side’s clash against Bangladesh.
However, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh in order to test their batters under the lights during the evening. Another reason that he stated during the toss ceremony for this decision was to make sure that their bowlers get some turn and bounce during their bowling in the day. India have only chased once during this competition and that was against Nepal during the group stage of the Asia Cup 2023.
Tilak Varma set to make ODI debut against Bangladesh
After his exploits in the West Indies in August 2023, Tilak Varma was chosen for the 17-member team for the Asia Cup, although he was not included in the 15-man roster for the ODI World Cup later that year. After earning his debut in the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League, Varma’s performances for the Mumbai Indians initially attracted attention.
The Southpaw has been one of the positives for the Mumbai Indians side in their past two Indian Premier League campaigns. He has surely made the number four spot in the MI lineup his own. He scored more than 300 runs in both of his past two campaigns and would be looking to get the ground running in the ODI format for India as well.
Fans react as Tilak Varma makes his ODI debut against Bangladesh during Asia Cup 2023:
Captain Rohit Sharma presented the ODI cap to Tilak Varma.
– The star boy of Indian cricket. pic.twitter.com/GkoFPCmny7
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 15, 2023
Congratulations to tilak ?
— Ram (@exttra_ram) September 15, 2023
Mi boys ?
— Nisha ? (@NishaRo45_) September 15, 2023
I guess Tilak and Surya both will be playing in today's match ?
— Gyani Khopdi (@gyaniKhopdi) September 15, 2023
Tilak verma
DebutLets see how it goes
— Gabbar_Mariner (@Gabbar_Mariner) September 15, 2023
MI ?
— Janaki D (@JanakiD646960) September 15, 2023
tilku is coming
— Utkarsh Singh Rudra (@imutkarshrudra) September 15, 2023
Mumbai Indians ka Player hone ka pura benefit mil rha hai bhai ko.
— Human Being ? (@ttjktyrt) September 15, 2023
MumbaiKar
MI-kar
— Arvind Kejriwal(???? 420) (@arvindKejri420) September 15, 2023
MI legend to MI boy ?
— Telugu Digi (@TeluguDz) September 15, 2023
