There was no frenzy outside the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai when the India A team bus arrived. No loud sirens, no large crowds, just a quiet afternoon interrupted briefly as security personnel snapped to attention. Among the players stepping off the bus, the cameras followed only one name — Tilak Varma.
Making his first competitive appearance in nearly a month, the 23-year-old wasted no time easing back in. While teammates went through extended warm-ups, Tilak began with light throwdowns before heading to the practice pitches to bowl. It was not a casual spell. He bowled at length to teammates including Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, Mayank Yadav, Manav Suthar and Ashok Sharma, showing no signs of discomfort after his recent groin injury.
Even as captains lined up for the toss, Tilak was still at it. Only when USA chose to bowl first did he rush back to the dugout to pad up, fully locked in for his return.
India’s designated No. 3 for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Tilak had been short on match practice after injury rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. But once in the middle, there was little evidence of rust. He played with the same confidence seen during the home T20I series against South Africa, taking on spin, finding gaps with ease, executing the reverse sweep and clearing the ropes when required.
His innings of 38 off 23 balls ended with an edge behind off Shubham Ranjane, but the knock ticked all the right boxes. Tilak remains a vital cog in India’s T20 World Cup setup, and his successful return sharpens selection calls elsewhere in the batting order.
The spotlight now shifts to the wicketkeeper-opener slot, where Ishan Kishan appears to have edged ahead of Sanju Samson. Samson struggled for form during the recent New Zealand T20I series, while Kishan made his chances count and even took on wicketkeeping duties in the final match. Captain Suryakumar Yadav has said the final call will be revealed on February 7, though recent performances clearly tilt momentum in Kishan’s favour.
Beyond Tilak’s comeback, the India A vs USA fixture also served as a testing ground for backup options. With Washington Sundar racing against time to recover, the management is exploring alternatives for match-ups against left-handers. Ravi Bishnoi strengthened his case with figures of 3/37, including the key wicket of USA captain Monank Patel. Tilak himself chipped in with the ball, taking a wicket in his first delivery as a part-time option.
Meanwhile, Team India will assemble in Mumbai on February 3 under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, ahead of a warm-up fixture against South Africa on February 4. Players, head coach Gautam Gambhir and support staff return after a brief break following the New Zealand series, shifting focus firmly to World Cup preparation.
The quiet atmosphere at DY Patil Stadium contrasted sharply with what lies ahead. A decent crowd turned up for the India A-USA game, but expectations are far higher for the India-South Africa clash, with close to 20,000 tickets already sold. The relaxed post-lunch calm enjoyed by security personnel is unlikely to repeat.
Also Read: Why Suryakumar Yadav Lost His Cool with Ishan Kishan During 2nd T20I vs New Zealand
Brief score: India A piled up 238/3 in 20 overs before bowling out USA for 200 in 19.4 overs, sealing a convincing 38-run victory.
With Tilak Varma back in rhythm and selection decisions narrowing, India’s T20 World Cup blueprint is steadily taking shape at just the right time.
