Tilak Varma Shines in India's T20I Victory Against New Zealand

In a gripping T20I match, Tilak Varma's outstanding performance helped India secure a narrow victory against New Zealand. Former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin praised Varma's skills and expressed hope for his future in Test cricket. The match saw India chase down a challenging target of 181 runs, with Varma playing a pivotal role in the team's success. Discover how Varma's contributions and the team's resilience led to this thrilling win, putting India ahead in the series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 24, 2026, 23:56 IST

Azharuddin Praises Tilak Varma's Performance

In Hyderabad, former Indian cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin expressed his admiration for Tilak Varma after the young batsman played a crucial role in India's thrilling run chase against New Zealand in the second T20I. Azharuddin hopes that Varma will also get a chance to represent India in Test cricket.

Tilak Varma's knack for excelling in high-pressure situations continued as he and Nitish Kumar Reddy formed a vital partnership, scoring 69 runs together to help India successfully chase down a target of 181 runs with just one ball remaining in Christchurch. His ability to read the game and accelerate during the chase was evident once again.

After the match, Azharuddin shared his thoughts, stating, "I am very pleased with Tilak Varma's performance today. He is an exceptional talent, and I genuinely hope he gets the opportunity to play Test cricket. For me, Test cricket holds the utmost significance, and I wish to see him represent India in that format as well. His contributions in T20 cricket have been impressive, and he played a pivotal role in today's victory. Congratulations to the entire team; cricket is a collective effort, and they all deserve recognition. I wish them continued success."

Tilak Varma's Impressive First-Class Record

In first-class cricket, Tilak Varma boasts an impressive record, having accumulated 1,828 runs across 25 matches and 38 innings, with an outstanding average of 57.12. His achievements include five centuries and seven half-centuries, with a personal best score of 121.

Match Summary: India vs New Zealand

In the match, India won the toss and opted to bowl first. They quickly had New Zealand in trouble at 41/3 during the powerplay. Glenn Phillips (70 runs off 46 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes) and Bevon Jacobs (58 runs off 46 balls, with five fours and a six) led a recovery for New Zealand, forming a 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which helped them reach 180/5 in their 20 overs.

Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler for India, taking 2 wickets for 33 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy each claimed one wicket.

While chasing the target of 181, India faced a dramatic collapse, going from 40/0 to 112/6, largely due to Mitchell Santner's impressive four-wicket haul. However, a quick 31 runs off 17 balls from Naman Dhir reignited hopes, and it was Tilak Varma (51 not out off 26 balls, with six fours and a six) alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy (26 not out off 13 balls, with a four and a six) who guided India to victory with one ball to spare. With this win, India leads the five-match series 2-0.