'Same quality': Suresh Raina compares Tilak Varma-Nitish Reddy partnership in 2nd T20I to MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh's knocks originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Suresh Raina says Tilak Varma has the same quality as Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni.
- Varma and Reddy added an unbeaten 69 off 30 balls to win in Christchurch.
- India lead New Zealand 2-0, and the third T20I is in Wellington on October 27.
Shades of 2011! Suresh Raina compares Tilak Varma and Nitish Reddy to the MS Dhoni-Yuvraj Singh era
Suresh Raina has likened Tilak Varma to Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, two of India’s finest middle-order batters, after the young left-hander helped the team pull off a remarkable chase against New Zealand.
The former India cricketer was also full of praise for Nitish Kumar Reddy, who stayed at the crease with Varma until the job was done in the second T20I.
India had a target of 181 to chase in Christchurch on Saturday, and with five overs left they still needed 68 runs. Varma and Reddy stayed unbeaten and put together a stand of 69 off just 30 balls, which carried the team home with one ball to spare.
Raina was particularly impressed by Varma’s skill in the middle order and recalled his own days batting in the lower middle order alongside Yuvraj and Dhoni, a period when the trio played with a special kind of fire.
"No, India are doing really well at the moment. Take Tilak Varma, for instance. When Yuvi Pa (Yuvraj Singh), Dhoni bhai (MS Dhoni) and I used to bat at No. 5, 6, 7 and 8, we had a certain passion, and I feel Tilak has that same quality. He is a player with a different mindset and has done exceptionally well. He is contributing with the ball too," Raina told ANI.
Raina then moved on to Reddy, whose fearless batting in the chase stood out for Raina.
“Nitish is also batting differently, and it is good to see that positive mindset. It was also nice to see Bhuvneshwar make a comeback as well,” he added.
Raina lauds Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy in T20 cricket
The former batter had kind words for Iyer as well, saying the skipper’s leadership style stands out in the shortest format. He explained that he hasn’t seen a captain use this kind of approach in T20s for many years, and he wished Iyer the best as he works on his legacy.
“Shreyas Iyer has done well, but the way the captaincy is being handled, I think I have seen a captain with this kind of approach in this format after many years. He is building a different legacy, and my best wishes are with him,” he added.
The win gives India a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The third game will be played in Wellington on October 27, and the visitors will be hoping to build further on the momentum from Christchurch.
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Varma and Reddy have given India a template for tough chases
Raina’s comparison is a big one, but Tilak Varma’s performance in Christchurch makes it easy to understand. Needing 68 off five overs is the sort of task that usually leads to panic, and instead he and Nitish Kumar Reddy stayed calm, picked their moments and finished the job with a ball in hand.
That kind of composure doesn’t come easily to young batters, and it’s exactly what Yuvraj and Dhoni were known for in the middle order.
What stands out most is the mindset. Both batters seemed to believe the target was within reach from the very first ball of that phase, and their 69 off 30 balls showed how that belief can change a game. A record chase in the last five overs isn’t a fluke, because it needs clear thinking as much as big hitting.
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India will, however, need to see this kind of effort repeated before anyone starts talking about a lasting finishing duo. Opposition teams will plan better for them in Wellington.
Even so, if Varma and Reddy keep showing this attitude, the middle order could become one of the strongest parts of the side, and that’s a comforting thought for a team already leading the series 2-0.
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