Mumbai (Maharashtra), April 21 (ANI): After Mumbai Indians’ (MI) victory over Gujarat Titans (GT), former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara suggested that star batter Tilak Varma needs to be more positive against spinners. He recommended using shots like sweeps and reverse sweeps while moving down the wicket to put pressure on the bowlers.
Tilak’s century was remarkable, tying him with Sanath Jayasuriya for the fastest IPL fifty. Despite a tough start, scoring only 19 in the first 22 balls, Tilak recovered to score 82 runs in the next 23 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Champions Waali Commentary,’ Pujara advised Tilak to step out of the crease and use his shots effectively. He emphasized that by being more aggressive and forcing spinners to change their lengths, Tilak could create pressure. Pujara also noted that simply rotating the strike isn’t enough in T20 matches.
Another expert, Aditya Tare, highlighted MI’s ability to bounce back, as seen in past seasons. Despite losing four of their first five games, MI has a history of making strong comebacks, like in 2014 and 2015 when they secured memorable wins.
In the match, GT elected to field first but struggled early, falling to 44/3 in the powerplay. MI’s partnership between Naman Dhir and Tilak turned things around, with Tilak scoring a quick century. MI reached 199/5, while GT were bowled out for 100 in just 15.5 overs due to strong performances by Ashwani, Allah Ghazanfar, Mitchell Santner, and Bumrah.
(ANI)