(Reporter:)
Getting to bat first was a blessing and was it the best wicket India have batted in this tournament so far?
(Tilak Verma:)
To be honest, I’d say it was a very good goal. But in the chase you can see how Bennett and Raza played, the wicket was even better than the first innings. But as we discussed yesterday, just before the game, we will go with a good mindset. And we saw our last year of T20 cricket, how we played. So after watching that video, everyone got our trust and that’s what we discussed as a team, like enjoy it and put on a smile and go for it. So yes.
(Reporter:)
Tilak, what did you think of your entry point today? It was around death. Is that something you would have preferred because you looked like you could play your shot today compared to previous matches in this tournament? what did you think?
(Tilak Verma:)
Sir, I always say whatever the team needs, I’m up for it. So I have been doing the same role since last four years in IPL for Mumbai Indians and also played few games for Indian team. So I’m up for it. Whatever the team needs, I’m up. And I can adapt according to the situation. But as I said earlier, I was only waiting for one shift. So I’m really thankful to God for that. The time was right, but I’m all for it. Now I’m pretty sure I can win games for the team in the future.
(Reporter:)
Tilak, a win gives the team confidence, but the kind of win you had and everyone showed, does it give you a bit more confidence going into the virtual knockout now against the West Indies?
(Tilak Verma:)
Yes 100% sir. This is what we are looking for, if you see, we are only looking for an individual. I wouldn’t say as an individual – we’re looking for runs, but what’s important is when the openers get off to a good start, it also builds on the same confidence at number three, four and five. So Sanju got off to a great start tonight. He was started brilliantly today. So it was observed for all. And we also discussed that whatever the situation is, when we get into a power play like three or four wickets, we bat with the same rhythm. So that’s what we discussed and we want to show the fear in the opposing players that these guys are ready to hit every ball.
(Reporter:)
We gave a collective performance today, a very good performance today. Before the team meeting, today was a game we had to win. What was the game plan for today before the team meeting?
(Tilak Verma:)
After the last game, we as a team and Mr. Gautam also said the same thing that whatever the situation is, just remember the brand of cricket we played from last year and also the New Zealand series and the South Africa series, how we played. So whatever the situation, as individuals just go out there, smile and enjoy the game. In doing so, just look at the team, what the team needs. Whenever you can see what the team needs, then you won’t be under pressure. You always look at what the situation is, how the goalkeeper is doing, all these things come to mind. As an individual, you won’t see me scoring runs, it all just goes out of my mind. So we discussed that and as individuals we just focus on what the team needs and in the end we did well.
(Reporter:)
A score of 256 is a rare high. Can there be extra time at Eden Gardens against West Indies? Can you go higher than this? what do you really think what are your thoughts As it is a knockout match, it is a quarter-final.
(Tilak Verma:)
To be honest, we weren’t thinking about the next game. Every day we will go as we can and after the first hour we will get to know each other after the first ball or a few balls, ball after game we will get to know how the goal behaves, what score we can give. But at the same time we want to play fearless cricket, the brand of cricket that we played today and since last year, the way we have played since last year. We want to maintain the same intention in the next match. And we continue in the tournament, we also do the same intensity. So if the wicket is not good, then we will adjust and keep that intensity, but I wouldn’t say we want to score more than 250, but if the team allows, if we get a good start, then of course we will go for it.
(Reporter:)
You said and Surya also said the same that you will watch your videos before the match and play the way you have always played according to the template that Team India played. There was a lot of talk about the strike rate before this game. Was there a determination to play at the same tempo? Or was the goal like that?
(Tilak Verma:)
Sir to be honest Ahmedabad’s wicket was also good and Delhi’s wicket was also good. But it’s a fun game, so mindset is very important. I think we were set to wait, if a goal is scored, it will take some time. We played the same team in the last series and before that. We had fun at the time, whatever pressure it was, it was on the opposite pitcher. If the wicket had fallen we would have hit 6 in the next ball. That’s what I meant. When I am batting, I always think if the ball is in my reach, I will hit a 6 in the first ball and then I will see a boundary. Personally, I thought now – that if the wicket falls, I will have 2-3 balls. So we had a bit of a rant. We went from 1-2 to 4-6. We discussed that we should enjoy it and if the first ball is in range – then we will bat away from the first ball. So that’s where the pitcher starts to think he’s going to hit. So there were a lot of changes in that. So we felt very good as a team and we will continue to increase this intensity.
(Reporter:)
In the last year and a half, you’ve had a habit that you all had, the whole team had, that you easily get to 200, 250 when those runs don’t come, and now that the tournament is at this stage where every match has to be won, so as a group, how satisfying is it for the group that you put in a batting performance like that when everyone comes and bats with 200 runs in the hotel in the afternoon and the West was a high blow for the Indies to give runs at the end?
(Tilak Verma:)
We all watched the match and knew that the wicket was good and West Indies made less runs. We knew how South Africa bats and what the South African team is like, we knew they would play well. The match was over before it even started. So as individuals and as a team we felt it was important for us to win. If you play good cricket – the run rate will automatically change – today the run rate has improved. If you are playing good cricket with West Indies, the run rate will automatically increase. At the same time, we looked at it so that if we win, you will feel that if we win, we are over. We also focused on our match. We were watching the game at the same time. But we needed our cricket to be good. If our cricket is good, God will help us in the tournament.
