India A captain Tilak Varmahas had to shoulder significant responsibility during the tri-series in Sri Lanka over the last few days. Apart from scoring
crucial runs, he has guided the team throughout the tournament, handled pressure situations effectively, and ultimately led India A to the summit clash against Sri Lanka A.
Tilak has also been appointed vice-captain of the Indian team, giving him an opportunity to further develop his leadership skills and learn from experienced players and support staff.
When asked about his biggest learnings from the series, he admitted that handling pressure had been a key takeaway. He added that the most important lesson was understanding each player better, recognising their strengths, and learning how to get the best out of them in different situations.
“There have been a lot of learnings, especially around handling pressure. We came into this tournament as a group that hadn’t played together before. Everyone was coming from different teams and different IPL environments, and then suddenly they had to come together for India-A,” said Tilak to Sportstar
“What helped was that everyone has played enough domestic cricket. As a captain, the biggest learning for me has been understanding each player — how they react under pressure, what their mindset is and how to get the best out of them. I spend a lot of time with players off the field because that helps me understand them better,” he added.
Asked about the Super Over contest, Tilak said the team had worked hard throughout the day and wanted a decisive result. He added that representing India comes with a rich legacy and immense expectations, so handling pressure is simply part of the job.
“Honestly, if you look at that game, the light wasn’t ideal for a Super Over. But we had worked hard throughout the day and wanted a result because both teams were playing for two points. That’s all I was asking the umpires about. There wasn’t much argument from our side,” said Tilak.
"As for pressure, yes, it comes with leading India because of the legacy attached to the team. But pressure is part of the job. We’ve actually played good cricket in this tournament. Against Afghanistan-A, the DLS result didn’t go our way. Against Sri Lanka-A, it was a very close game. But overall, we’ve played well as a team, and now we have one game left. We’ll give it our best,” he added.
Tilak also spoke about his personal growth as a cricketer, saying that he strives to improve every day and prefers to compare himself with his previous performances rather than with other players. The India A captain also had words of praise for youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi, highlighting his immense talent and potential. Tilak emphasised that young players need proper backing and support.
“I don’t really look at the competition. I don’t think about who’s coming in or who’s doing what. For me, it only matters how good I am today and how good I can be tomorrow. That’s the comparison I make every day. I focus on improving my game, on and off the field. If I compare myself with anyone, it’s with myself. That’s the only thing that matters,” said Tilak.
