With the selectors moving on from Shikhar Dhawan, India have only one left-arm spinner in Ravindra Jadeja’s first seven, unless the team decides to play Ishan Kishan in the middle-order, which is unlikely as he has only been used as the second opener so far. He is also a left-handed batsman, the former India selector said.

Varma had an impressive 2023 in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, batting out of position in difficult situations and scoring big. In 11 matches, he scored 343 runs at an average of 42.88 and a strike rate of 164.11. Even in the international arena in the recently concluded five-match T20I series, he showed his composure when the situation was stacked against him and stood out among other batters.

The Hyderbad-based player also has an impressive record in domestic cricket in the 50-over format. In 25 List A matches, he has scored 1236 runs at an average of 56.18.

Tilak has fantastic potential and is a brilliant player, but he needs to play a couple of one-day series before including him in the WC squad. We have to prepare him properly, Srikkanth concluded.