Pujara Offers Key Insights for Tilak Varma's Performance

In a recent match, former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara provided valuable advice to Tilak Varma on enhancing his performance against spin bowling. Following a spectacular century that helped the Mumbai Indians secure a crucial victory over the Gujarat Titans, Pujara emphasized the importance of being aggressive and putting pressure on bowlers. He highlighted Varma's potential to utilize various shots effectively. Additionally, former cricketer Aditya Tare praised MI's resilience, recalling their history of comebacks in challenging seasons. The match summary reveals MI's impressive turnaround after a shaky start, showcasing their fighting spirit.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 21, 2026, 15:42 IST

Pujara's Guidance for Tilak Varma

After the Mumbai Indians' victory over the Gujarat Titans, former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara emphasized that Tilak Varma, a standout player for the franchise, needs to adopt a more aggressive approach against spin bowling. He suggested utilizing sweeps, reverse sweeps, and advancing down the pitch to exert pressure on the bowlers.

Tilak's remarkable century against GT was noteworthy, as it marked MI's joint-fastest IPL fifty, equaling the record set by the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya. In his innings of 101 not out off 45 balls, Tilak faced challenges early on, scoring only 19 runs from 22 balls while the team struggled at 44/3. However, he turned the game around, amassing 82 runs in just 23 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes, achieving a strike rate of 356.

Pujara's Tactical Advice

During a segment on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary', Pujara pointed out that Tilak must apply pressure on bowlers to force them to alter their lengths. He noted that simply rotating the strike allows spinners to maintain control. "Tilak should be more assertive against spinners. I’m not suggesting he should only aim for big hits. When a player approaches the game with intent, it compels the spinner to adjust his lengths, which creates pressure. Tilak can step out of the crease and utilize the sweep or reverse sweep. He has various options, but first, he must recognize his strengths," Pujara explained. He added, "In my playing days, stepping out was my forte. If a bowler delivered a short ball, I would respond with a cut or pull shot. Tilak should adopt a similar strategy to unsettle the spinner. His sweep shot is also effective, making it another viable option. The crucial aspect is to keep the spinner under pressure; merely rotating the strike in T20s allows the spinner to dominate without needing to change his length."

Mumbai Indians' Resilience

Another expert from JioStar, former cricketer Aditya Tare, highlighted MI's resilience, noting their second win of the season following four consecutive losses. He recalled the franchise's history of remarkable comebacks. "This victory against the Gujarat Titans is crucial for the Mumbai Indians. After losing four out of their first five matches, they found themselves at the bottom of the standings. However, MI has a legacy of bouncing back from poor starts. For instance, in the 2014 season, they lost their first five matches yet still made it to the playoffs. Similarly, in 2015, they faced a comparable situation but staged an incredible comeback in the latter half of the season, ultimately winning the trophy against Chennai Super Kings in the final. This team knows how to fight back and will draw inspiration from those past successes," he concluded.

Match Overview: MI vs GT

In the match, GT won the toss and opted to field first. Despite a shaky start at 44/3 during the powerplay, MI regained their composure thanks to a solid partnership between Naman Dhir (45 runs off 32 balls, including six fours and a six) and Tilak Verma. Tilak, who initially struggled to score, exploded later, finishing with 101 not out off 45 balls, leading MI to a total of 199/5 in their 20 overs.

Kagiso Rabada was the standout bowler for GT, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs, while Mohammed Siraj maintained his economical form with figures of 1/25.

In their chase, GT posed little threat, collapsing for just 100 runs in 15.5 overs. Ashwani delivered a career-best performance with 4 wickets for 24 runs, while spinners Allah Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner each contributed with two wickets. Bumrah also had a solid outing, finishing with 1/15 in three overs.