Mumbai
Indians lost their second consecutive match on Saturday in IPL 2022 against
Rajasthan Royals. But youngster Tilak Varma impressed former India head coach
Ravi Shastri with his temperamental innings of 61 off 33 balls. Chasing a 194
runs target, Mumbai Indians got off to a poor start losing their captain Rohit
Sharma and Ammolpreet Singh early. It was then that Ishan Kishan (54 off 43
balls) and Varma built an 81-run partnership to raise Mumbai Indians’ hope in
the game.

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When
Ishan Kishan decided to go slow, Tilak Varma took Rajasthan Royals bowlers to the
cleaners. The left-handed batter smashed five sixes and three boundaries before
Ravichandran Ashwin bamboozled him with a turning delivery that took the bails
off. Till the time Varma was there at the crease, it seemed Mumbai Indians were
very much in the game. But after his dismissal, Kieron Pollard and Tim David
could not provide any hope to MI.

After
watching the 20-year-old soaking the pressure and performing on the big
occasion, Ravi Shastri said Tilak Varma’s form is a “good omen” for Mumbai
Indians.

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 “I like his temperament very much. He wasn’t
scared of the big names,” Shastri said about Varma on ESPNCricinfo.

“He
was very calm and composed and has an all-round game with great shots;
especially in front of the wicket and the sweep. He used the pace really well
too. This is a good omen for Mumbai Indians because Suryakumar Yadav is not in
the side and they are missing him very much,” Shastri stated.

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Shastri
also said that only Suryakumar Yadav can provide the MI with some “strength and
stability” in the middle order. Suryakumar Yadav has joined the MI squad before
their second game in IPL 2022 but didn’t feature in the XI. He has just
recovered from an injury.

“They
need strength and stability in the middle order and that will come only when
Suryakumar Yadav returns. So, the innings he played today will benefit Tilak a
lot as the tournament proceeds,” said Shastri.