'I love playing Test cricket': After Duleep Trophy heroics, Tilak Varma opens up on his India ambition

Tilak Varma, captain of South Zone, expressed his deep affection for Test cricket after leading his team to the Duleep Trophy final with standout performances. The 23-year-old, who serves as India's T20I vice-captain, showcased his red-ball prowess by scoring two unbeaten centuries, 116 and 51, against North Zone in the semifinal. These innings propelled South Zone to a commanding position in the match, setting them up for a showdown against East Zone in the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai starting September 6. Varma emphasized that his passion lies in red-ball cricket, stating that his aspirations have always centered around representing India in Test matches rather than exclusively focusing on shorter formats. Varma, who has represented India in 53 T20I and five ODI matches over the past three years, clarified that his involvement in white-ball cricket has not diminished his commitment to red-ball cricket. He explained that his selection for international white-ball teams was largely influenced by the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite this, he maintained that his strengths lie in longer forms of the game. "My strength has always been red-ball cricket," Varma stated. "I love playing Test cricket, something that's always there in my blood." He further noted that his ability to perform consistently in red-ball cricket has been honed through years of dedicated practice, even though his opportunities to compete in domestic red-ball tournaments have been limited due to his international commitments. Varma highlighted the challenges he faces in balancing his international career with his domestic red-ball ambitions. He mentioned that in the past few years, he has tried to participate in as many Ranji Trophy games as possible whenever his schedule allows. However, the demands of the international calendar have often restricted his availability for domestic competitions. "Right now, I am available for T20s and ODIs for my country," he said, "but I love to play red-ball cricket. I am trying to play as much red-ball cricket as I can because I want to score there and come to the Indian side as well." In the semifinal against North Zone, Varma delivered a pivotal all-round performance that secured South Zone's place in the final. His contributions included an unbeaten 51 in the second innings, which formed part of an unbroken 79-run partnership with R Smaran. Earlier in the match, MD Nidheesh's five-wicket haul helped restrict North Zone to 297, laying the groundwork for South Zone's eventual victory. In the first innings, Varma's unbeaten 116 set the stage for a dominant performance, supported by a 175-run partnership with Shreyas Gopal, who scored 87. This effort ensured South Zone a crucial 117-run first-innings lead, securing their place in the final. While Varma's focus remains firmly on Test cricket, the broader context of Indian cricket includes stories of players whose careers highlight the complexities of transitioning between formats. One such narrative involves the Gupte brothers, particularly Baloo Gupte, whose domestic achievements far exceeded his international accomplishments. Baloo, known for his exceptional wicket-taking abilities in first-class cricket, struggled to translate his skills into Test success, ultimately playing only three Tests and taking just three wickets. His legacy, however, endures through records that remain unmatched in certain contexts, such as his historic performance in the Duleep Trophy. Meanwhile, the younger generation continues to break boundaries, exemplified by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old who assumed the role of stand-in captain for East Zone during their Duleep Trophy semifinal against Central Zone. Sooryavanshi, usually East Zone's vice-captain, took charge after regular skipper Ishan Kishan suffered a thumb injury. His leadership, though brief, underscored the growing presence of young talents in Indian cricket, reflecting the evolving landscape of the sport.