West Indies won the first T20I of the five-match series but the young batsman, Tilak Varma, 20, who was making his debut in International cricket set the whole Internet on fire with his sensational performance in both batting and fielding departments.
India and West Indies recently started their T20-match series as a part of their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. West Indies were ready to clash against India as they previously had lost both the Test and the ODI series against the visitors. However, the T20 series didn’t begin on a positive note for India, as they lost the opening match by just 4 runs.
Batting first, the West Indies saw good contributions from Brandon King, who scored 28 runs, and Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell, who helped the team reach a total of 149 runs.
India’s chase encountered some early setbacks, with the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. However, Tilak Varma provided a glimmer of hope with an impressive 39-run innings off just 22 balls before getting out in the 11th over. Even though skipper Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson also lost their wickets, Axar Patel managed to score 13 runs before being dismissed. In the end, the West Indies kept their cool and won the match by a narrow margin of four runs.
The game also marked Tilak Varma’s international debut, and he showcased his exceptional fielding skills during the match. One highlight was a brilliant catch he took to dismiss Johnson Charles, drawing comparisons to the legendary fielder Jonty Rhodes. Fans were mesmerized by Tilak’s fielding prowess, and his “Jonty Rhodes” moment became a sensation on social media.
Tilak’s talent extended beyond fielding, as he proved with his impressive batting skills. He began his innings by hitting a six off Alzarri Joseph and continued his brilliant performance, scoring 39 runs off just 22 balls at an outstanding strike rate of 177. His innings included three sixes and two fours, showcasing his aggressive and engaging style of batting.
However, despite Tilak’s valiant efforts, Team India couldn’t quite clinch the victory. They managed to score 145 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs but fell short by just four runs, resulting in a narrow defeat in the first T20I.
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