Navi Mumbai: Mumbai Indians’ young batsman Tilak Verma got into a rat-cat fight with Rajasthan Royals’ veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in a match played at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. Verma, who impressed everyone with his clean stroke around the wicket in his second IPL innings, was batting on 61 when he hit Ashwin for a six over the third man.
On the very next ball, Verma tried a conventional sweep but panicked at the off-spinner’s change in pace, dip and turn to see his stumps shattered. It was the end of an innings, where the 19-year-old Verma became the youngest player to score a half-century for Mumbai Indians in the IPL with five fours and three sixes.
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“He is a great and world class bowler for the Indian team. There was a bit of panic. But my plan was to have one end smaller (the border) while the other end was bigger. Initially, I knew he would hit the stumps and was looking forward to it as he bowled in good areas. I knew to be safe, he would pitch outside (stump), so I tried to reverse (sweep) and then he was back on the stumps,” Verma explained in the post-match virtual press conference.
But Ashwin bounced back to dismiss Verma off the very next ball, helping Mumbai suffer a 23-run defeat. “I thought that if he (Ashwin) comes back to bowl at the stumps, I will get another six so that it can be beneficial for the team. But when the ball caught a little and turned a little, I got beaten up. I was expecting a slow straight ball but lost a bit by the turn. Will try better next time,” said Verma, who plays for Hyderabad in the domestic circuit.
Mumbai were chasing a target of 194 when Verma and Ishan Kishan (54) were batting together for a crucial partnership of 81 runs off 54 balls. Undoubtedly, Verma enjoyed batting with his fellow left-hander to keep Mumbai in the hunt.
“It was a pleasure to bat with him (Kishan) as he is a very good hitter of the ball. When he plays well, as an opposite player, I get confidence because he plays so smoothly.”
“I have seen every bit of his batting from the Under-19 and domestic seasons. Our plan was that if one of us lived to the end, we would easily follow through. But it was not our day because unfortunately Ishaan and I got out. It was a learning about (the importance) of finishing the game for us.”
Verma dedicated his 61-run knock to his coach Salaam Bayash and parents Namburi Nagaraju and Namburi Gayatri Devi.
“If not for my coach, I would not have been here. Whatever I have done for Mumbai Indians in today’s match, I would dedicate it to him and my parents. All three of them have done a lot for me.” I have worked hard. If all of them had not worked hard for me, all these results would not have come today.”
Verma signed on to express his gratitude to the Mumbai Indians team, filled with many legends of the game, for working on his power-hitting as well as developing his bowling skills. “Mumbai Indians is a huge franchise as it is also my favorite franchise. He did a lot of work on me in all categories, including working on my power hitting as well as my bowling.”
“He boosted my confidence by allowing me to play my game. Apart from this, there are some legends in the dressing room like Sachin (Tendulkar) sir, Rohit (Sharma) bhai, Polly (Pollard) and (Jasprit) Bumrah. Being among the many legends in the team makes me feel very confident. I really thank Mumbai Indians for supporting me from the beginning of my career.”
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