New Delhi, Feb 8 (NationPress) India narrowly triumphed over the USA in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup opener, receiving accolades and insightful commentary from former captain Sunil Gavaskar. He emphasized Tilak Varma’s cool demeanor during the match while discussing expectations for India's upcoming game against Namibia.

The reigning champions, India, kicked off their home World Cup journey with a tense 29-run victory against the USA at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. After being put in to bat first, India faced a challenging surface and stumbled to 77/6 before bouncing back to 161/9, thanks in large part to a counterattacking performance.

The USA posed a brief threat during their chase but ultimately fell short at 132/9. While captain Suryakumar Yadav contributed an unbeaten 84 and Mohammed Siraj claimed 3/29, Gavaskar particularly praised Tilak Varma for his poise under pressure.

“Tilak Varma is a very street-smart cricketer. He has impressed not only with his batting skills and shot selection but also with his awareness of when, how, and where to execute them. He demonstrated this against the USA. Coming in to bat in the second over after the team’s main aggressor, Abhishek Sharma, was dismissed, Tilak recognized the need for a counter-attack, albeit without taking excessive risks,” Gavaskar remarked during an interview with JioStar.

“He wasn’t being overly aggressive but took calculated risks. His chip shot over mid-on was a smart choice since he knew the fielder was inside the circle. He wasn't aiming for a six, just a boundary. Tilak is the type of player who can stick with you. We witnessed this in the Asia Cup final as well, where he took his time before accelerating at the end. So, if he’s still batting by the 14th or 15th over, you can be confident that India is nearing 200 runs,” the former captain added.

Entering the tournament under pressure due to injuries and illnesses sidelining key players like Jasprit Bumrah for the opener, India’s early collapse exposed some vulnerabilities. However, their recovery ensured a vital start in a competitive group.

Looking forward to the clash with Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Gavaskar believes the team’s balance heavily relies on Bumrah’s fitness. He noted, “The management will certainly be assessing Jasprit Bumrah's fitness. They may want him to bowl more in the nets prior to the match. If he's fit, he will naturally return to the team. I don't foresee any other changes. We'll have to see if Mohammed Siraj or Arshdeep Singh makes way for him. They may rotate between Arshdeep, Bumrah, and Siraj to keep all players fresh for the latter part of the tournament.”

“In terms of batting, I don't anticipate changes. They will simply expect improved scores from the batters and would undoubtedly want Abhishek Sharma to deliver a substantial and rapid innings of 70, 80, or even 90 runs. The trend with Abhishek is that after an early dismissal in one match, he often bounces back with a big score in the following game. I believe the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is in for a treat when India faces Namibia,” Gavaskar concluded.