Tilak Varma, fresh from a breathtaking century against Gujarat Titans, has revealed that he turned to Rohit Sharma for advice during a lean patch and was advised to spend time at the crease before launching himself into an attack.
"So I took a lot on myself, thinking I was not in good form. I was talking, especially with Rohit @I0$, and he was saying to me, 'You play 15-20 balls and you know what your capability is - just do it. After playing 15 balls, what you can do, we know and everyone knows. So just do this. Don't look at the situation, don't look at anything. First play 15 balls, and after that, whatever happens, we'll see the result later,'" Varma, who scored an jaw-dropping unbeaten 101, said on the eve of Mumbai Indians' match against Chennai Super Kings.
"That (advice) gave me confidence, and it was in my mind that I would play 15 balls and then see the rest after that. Once I had played 15 balls, I knew I could take on anyone. Automatically, that instinct comes. The more you play, the more you get used to the ball, you adapt to the wicket - these are the basics. And then it started, and after that, the result came."
Ravichandran Ashwin rated that knock as one of the finest all-time hundreds in the IPL history, one that put a faltering Mumbai Indians campaign back on rails. Before that game against Gujarat Titans, Varma had managed just 43 runs from five matches, but at the Narendra Modi Stadium he batted like a man on a mission, racing to a 45-ball century. More vitally, 83 of the final 96 added to the total after the batting timeout in the MI's innings, came off his willow.
Reflecting on the significance of the century, Varma (23) said, "To be honest, it was very important for the team and for me as well because in a couple of innings I was not taking that time in the middle. So I was just thinking about staying at the wicket for a few balls, and after that I kept going according to the situation. I am happy that it came my way."
Varma became the fourth No. 5 batter in the IPL history to score a century but he said his preferred position is No. 3. "The same question I have been hearing for the last three years. As I said before, I would always love to bat at No. 3, but I am always up for where the team needs me, whether it is 4, 5, 6 or 7 - anywhere, I am ready.
"Because I have batted in different positions over the last three years, I know which situation, how to behave, which bowler I can attack and how the wicket behaves. Whenever the innings goes deeper, the ball gets slightly softer and comes onto the bat differently. So according to that, I change my plans and all these things. I have my game plans. Wherever the team needs me to bat, I am up for it."
The T20 World Cup winner said he does not over practise when runs do not come his way. He introspected and spoke to his childhood coach recently when he went through that lean patch. "I always think at that moment what is needed. Sometimes I feel like I have to practise more; sometimes I feel like I have to stay away from the game. So in my mind, before going to sleep, I think about how I am feeling. Because it's not always the same - when you're not scoring runs, it's not necessary that you just have to practise more to get back. It doesn't work like that.
"Even in the World Cup, my first two or three matches were (not) decent, and at that time I felt I had to practise more, so I was practicing a lot. Then when I didn't do well in the next two or three matches, I felt I needed to stay away from the game, so I didn't practice much.
"The person I wanted to speak to was my childhood coach - I wanted to share a few things about my batting with him, so I spoke to him. After that conversation, I felt relaxed. I didn't practice much, but I knew it was just a matter of one innings and I would be back. At the right time, it came together - God helped me," Varma said, speaking about his mental state while in a good or bad phase.
