“Came to my room” – Suryakumar Yadav reveals Tilak Varma’s special request that led to maiden hundred

Tilak Varma showed the world what he’s capable of yesterday. The 22-year-old was at his destructive best against South Africa in Centurion. Coming in early (just two balls in the match), Tilak went on to score nearly half of Team India’s run and became just the 12th Men in Blue player to score a T20I hundred. The century in Centurion could define his career; it could be the start of it all.

Tilak Varma asks SKY for a favour

At 22, Tilak’s already played 23 matches for Team India and can go on to represent his nation for more than a decade. A glorious innings with the series tied 1-1 and several of India’s top players missing. Fascinatingly, Tilak has to thank his captain, Suryakumar Yadav, for it. The southpaw may have done all the scoring, but the reason he was out there after Sanju Samson got out for a 2-ball duck was because of SKY.

After the game, the Indian captain revealed that following a 20-ball 20 in the second India vs South Africa T20I, Tilak came to him and asked to bat at number three.

Suryakumar Yadav, the perfect captain

Now that spot belongs to Suryakumar himself. He’s batted at that position in the last two matches, and although he couldn’t succeed, as captain, the place should be his. But Surya decided he’d give it up following Tilak’s request. The result is for everyone to see. You must be a team man to be a captain, and that’s exactly what Suryakumar Yadav is.

“He (Tilak) came to my room at Gqeberha and said, give me a chance at No. 3, I want to do well, and I said, go out there and express yourself. He asked for it, and he delivered. Very happy for him and his family,“ the Indian captain said in the post-match interview in Centurion.