"He is the most improved Indian player in the T20 setup" - Aakash Chopra lauds Team India star after IND vs SA 2025 5th T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Tilak Varma for scoring a responsible half-century in the fifth T20I against South Africa. He opined that the left-handed batter is India's most improved T20I player.

Tilak scored 73 runs off 42 deliveries as India set South Africa a 232-run target in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19. The Men in Blue then restricted the Proteas to 201/8 to win the game by 30 runs and bag the series 3-1.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that Tilak pips Abhishek Sharma to the accolade of being India's most improved shortest-format player.

"Tilak Varma, this guy needs to be spoken about because of the way his stature has grown and the way he has played. The maturity is at a different level. He is the most improved Indian player in the T20 setup. One will have to say that. Abhishek Sharma will come close, of course, because of the way he is batting, but Tilak Varma hits you differently. He is brilliant," he said.

Chopra added that Tilak is making the most of the opportunity given to him by Suryakumar Yadav to bat at No. 3.

"Suryakumar Yadav is doing him a favor by allowing him to bat at No. 3. Ideally, Suryakumar Yadav should himself bat at No. 3. He is saying that if you give him a chance, he won't let it go. He hasn't let it go at all. He started scoring runs in South Africa and hasn't stopped thus far," he observed.

Tilak Varma has amassed 1,183 runs at an impressive average of 49.29 in 37 T20I innings. He has scored 542 runs at a much better average of 60.22 in 15 T20I innings at No. 3.

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"He innovates and improvises, but doesn't throw his wicket" - Aakash Chopra on Tilak Varma's best attribute

Tilak Varma struck 10 fours and a six during his 73-run knock. [P/C: BCCI/X]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Tilak Varma bats aggressively, but with control.

"The thing I like about him is that he controls it. He plays fast, jumps down the track and hits the first ball for a six (four), and then keeps hitting. He innovates and improvises, but doesn't throw his wicket," he said.

The former India opener particularly appreciated the 23-year-old for his judicious shot selection.

"He stays till the end. He says he would accelerate in his own way. He says he would take risks, but he knows that his reward is better there. Shot selection is impeccable. The areas he targets, that is outstanding," Chopra observed.

Tilak Varma added 105 runs for the fourth wicket with Hardik Pandya in the final T20I against South Africa. The latter smashed a 25-ball 63 with the help of five fours and as many sixes.

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Edited by Kartik Iyer