Will Tilak Varma be India’s next Test star? Duleep Trophy heroics puts case forward

Tilak Varma’s South Zone will clash against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final

Tilak Varma has already established himself as one of India’s promising white-ball batters. His left-handed strokeplay, ability to absorb pressure and his conventional mindset have helped him to emerge as one of the finest middle-order stars in the shortest format of the game. He has further played in different roles for the Indian side. 

Test cricket, on the other hand, presents a different challenge. The ability to bat for long periods, absorb pressure, and extraordinary temperament are the qualities that are essential in a Test batter. In recent months, Tilak has been putting together all these qualities and has provided a strong case for himself in the longest format of the game. 

Duleep Trophy heroics strengthen Tilak Varma’s case for a Test debut 

The latest evidence of Tilak Varma’s red-ball heroics came during the Duleep Trophy semi-final against North Zone. Leading the South Zone side, Varma slammed an unbeaten hundred in the first innings, rescuing his team after they slipped to 80/5. He then followed it with another unbeaten knock of 51 runs, contributing fairly to South Zone’s successful run-chase in the fourth innings. South Zone qualified for the finals, beating North Zone under Tilak’s leadership. 

These two knocks demonstrated different aspects of his game. The first innings required him to bat deep and guide his team through the innings, while the second one demanded rock-solid patience as South Zone negotiated a tricky chase. 

Tilak’s transition from T20 cricket to red-ball cricket clearly showed that he is very adaptable to the conditions and can change gears without abandoning his natural strengths. His first-class numbers have been very impressive, as he has amassed 1729 runs while averaging 55.77 with eight centuries. 

Tilak Varma’s India A form strengthens his case 

Tilak Varma has played for India A in the longest format of the game. He also scored a massive century against New Zealand A while batting for India A back in 2022. Other than Indian domestic cricket, Tilak has played in the County Championship, representing Hampshire. 

He played 7 matches with Hampshire during the 2025 County Championship and amassed 412 runs. His stint in England featured two centuries and a stellar knock on debut. Since then, Tilak’s preparation has been aimed at playing for India, particularly with an eye on the Test format. 

For India A during the recent tri-nation series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, he finished with 275 runs and led India to a comprehensive victory. He scored four half-centuries in the series. 

Tilak, who has already made his ODI and T20I debuts for India, can emerge as the next all-format cricketer from the nation. India are looking for players who add stability to their middle-order, and several players are currently contending for the spot in the Indian Test side. 

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