With Duleep Trophy slipping away, Tilak Verma shifts focus to Afghanistan T20Is

Tilak Varma has turned his attention to the Afghanistan T20I series after South Zone's chances in the Duleep Trophy final slipped away. Tilak will be the vice-captain as India face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series.

In Short

• East Zone took a 584-run lead at stumps on Day 4
• Tilak expects to make a quick transition to white-ball cricket
• The Indian T20I vice-captain said red-ball cricket is his A-game

South Zone captain Tilak Varma may have endured a disappointing Duleep Trophy campaign, but the India T20I vice-captain is already looking ahead to his next challenge: the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan.

With East Zone establishing a massive overall lead of 584 runs and virtually sealing victory in the domestic season opener, there was little left for South Zone to fight for. However, Tilak will have an early opportunity to put the setback behind him and focus on international success.

"Yeah, the (personal) form has been really good. But at the same point, it's a different format (against Afghanistan). So, I should change my gears again. I'm pretty confident about it," Tilak said, as quoted by PTI, after the fourth day of the Duleep Trophy final.

"My goal now is to win the Afghanistan series. So I'll be going with the same confidence and let's see how it goes," he added.

India are set to begin their campaign against Afghanistan in New Delhi, with the opening T20I scheduled to be played on September 13. For Tilak, the series presents a timely chance to bounce back and chase a new target after his Duleep Trophy disappointment.

RED-BALL CRICKET IS MY A-GAME

Despite the Afghanistan series starting just days after the conclusion of the Duleep Trophy, Tilak feels he just needs a couple of practice sessions to get back into the groove of white-ball cricket.

"I have started my cricketing career professionally with red-ball cricket. But if you have seen me since the last few years, I have been playing white ball cricket a lot.

"But as I said, red ball has always been my favourite game, so it's my A Game. But since the last five, six years, I have been really good with the white ball also," he said.

The Hyderabad batter has also made a strong impression in leadership roles, having recently guided India A in their series against Sri Lanka A before taking charge of South Zone in the Duleep Trophy.

Tilak believes these captaincy assignments have been valuable for his development, giving him a fresh perspective and adding an important new dimension to his cricketing journey.

"It's been a lot of learning because if you see now, we have got quite a few youngsters (in South Zone), and also India A when I led the side, we were also quite a young side.

"When you have great talents and that eagerness to win from each and every individual, then it is easy for the captain. There are many things I can learn as a captain. I keep growing as a captain, and right now I'm just enjoying it," he said.

Tilak is the vice-captain of the Indian T20I side.

- Ends