On Saturday (January 25), Indian left-handed batter Tilak Varma smashed the world record for scoring most runs in T20Is without being dismissed in consecutive innings.

The 22-year-old showed his caliber at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai by scoring a composed 72 runs out of 55 balls (including 4 fours and 5 sixes) that steered India to a 2-wicket victory in the last-over thriller of the second T20I match. Tilak single-handedly helped India take a 2-0 lead in the ongoing five-match series.

In addition, the star batter surpassed Virat Kohli’s record (258 runs) by accumulating the most runs in four consecutive T20I innings without getting dismissed. Other Indian batters like Sanju Samson (257 runs), Rohit Sharma (253 runs), and Shikhar Dhawan (252 runs) rank next in the list.

The southpaw with 318 runs in four T20I innings with an unbeaten track record has proved a remarkable consistency in his previous outings, scoring *72, *19, *120, and *107. However, India’s sensational talent has another golden opportunity to extend his streak in the third T20I as he is yet to be dismissed by any talented bowler.

Earlier, New Zealand’s all-rounder Mark Chapman topped the list with 271 runs, having amassed maximum runs in two successive innings or more without any dismissals.

List of Top 5 Batters in T20Is with Most Runs in Two Consecutive Matches or More Without Any Dismissals ft. Tilak Varma

It is noteworthy to know that Tilak Varma is the only batter from the test-playing nations who amassed 300+ runs in T20Is without being dismissed by any bowler so far.

He leads the charts among other players in the list having scored the most runs between two dismissals in T20Is:

1.Tilak Varma (India) – 318 Runs in 4 Innings

2.  Mark Chapman (New Zealand) – 271 Runs in 5 Innings

3. Aaron Finch (Australia) – 240 Runs in 2 Innings

4. Shreyas Iyer (India) – 240 Runs in 4 Innings

5. David Warner (Australia) – 239 Runs in 5 Innings

Tilak Varma’s 3rd T20I Fifty Guides India to a Nail Biting Run Chase vs England

Chasing a target of 166, Tilak Varma started slowly scoring 2 runs from just 6 balls, but eventually, accelerated his innings and ensured his presence till the end.

England’s pace bowler Brydon Carse’s fierce spell of 3-29 in 4 overs dismissed India’s core batters Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Dhruv Jurel. At one stage, the hosts were left struggling at 146-8.

However, Tilak was fuming, but kept his composed form and crafted a 20-run partnership with the leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who came to bat at No.10.

With 13 runs requiring off the last 12 balls, Bishnoi played a supportive role as a tailender, scoring 9 runs from 5 balls, which included two vital fours to ease the pressure from the specialist batter. 

Ultimately, India’s sensational batter struck the winning runs and finished the game in style with a boundary to guide his team to a convincing victory with 2 wickets remaining and 4 balls to spare.

Notably, the left-hander scored 75% of his runs behind the stumps (53 out of 72 runs) and took advantage of pace bowlers to a maximum extent.

Final Opinion:

Tilak Varma’s back-to-back T20I tons in South Africa were unforgettable, highlighting his aggressive batting style. But, this knock against would be one of the special ones in his career. He showed unmatched maturity and controlled temperament in a tricky run chase.

A couple of years back, the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hailed Tilak as the all-format player. Having secured his spot in the T20I squad as the team’s ace batter, two more formats remain ahead of him. Finally, it is expected that the young batter will solidify his position in the ODI and test squads in the upcoming years.