In a thrilling clash between India and West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, young talent Tilak Varma made a dazzling impression on his international debut with a remarkable catch to dismiss Johnson Charles.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first but faced early trouble in the powerplay as Yuzvendra Chahal struck twice in the fifth over. However, the in-form Nicholas Pooran fought back with a swift counter-attack, restoring some balance for the West Indian side.
As the game progressed, it was left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav who made a significant impact. With his very first delivery, he tempted Johnson Charles to take on a flighted delivery on the stumps.
Unfortunately for the batter, he misread the googly and attempted a slog sweep against the wind, needing to clear the leg-side boundary. It was at this critical moment that Tilak Varma, fielding deep, showcased his athleticism and determination. He covered an impressive amount of ground to reach the ball, never losing sight of it, and concluded his sprint with an extraordinary final stretch, securing the catch.
VIDEO: Tilak Varma shines In INTL debut match with spectacular catch
Tilak Varma’s inclusion in the T20I series against West Indies came as a result of his outstanding performance during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians (MI). The young cricketer’s talent was evident as he scored a magnificent 343 runs in 11 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 164.11.
Making his maiden appearance in the first T20I, Varma’s debut was nothing short of spectacular. Alongside him, right-arm pacer Mukesh Kumar also marked his T20I debut. Mukesh had already made his presence felt during the ongoing tour of the Caribbean, having previously made his Test and ODI debuts.