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Tilak Varma shares how Gautam Gambhir’s coaching and advice from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli help him excel ahead of India’s ODI vs South Africa.
Gautam Gambhir ahead of the first ODI in Ranchi
Star India batter Tilak Varma revealed that head coach Gautam Gambhir often tells him that if he has the skill, he can excel across all formats. He added that the latter puts him under pressure during practice, so he can handle pressure better in real games.
Ahead of India’s second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, Varma spoke about the demanding training environment Gambhir has cultivated and how it has helped him grow into a more adaptable, multi-format batter.
Varma played four ODIs two years ago and has an average of 22.66. He batted at five in those games, but now, spin-bowling all-rounders are being preferred at the slot, be it Axar Patel or Washington Sundar.
“Gautam sir always gives me confidence. He tells me that if you have the skill, you can play all formats and do well in all formats. He puts me under pressure in practice sessions so I can learn how to handle pressure in matches,” Varma said while speaking to JioStar.
“He (Gambhir) keeps challenging me because he believes I have the capability. That backing means a lot to me,” Varma added.
The star Indian batter highlighted the influence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on his growth, saying that sharing a dressing room with two of India’s greatest modern batters boosts the confidence of the entire team.
“When Rohit bhai and Virat bhai are in the same team, the confidence level is completely different. They have so much experience and knowledge and I try to take as much advice from them as possible,” Varma said.
“I speak to Virat bhai a lot, especially about fitness and running between the wickets. His intensity is incredible. I love running too, so I really enjoy that part of the game,” Varma added.
On the ongoing South Africa series, the star Indian batter said, “Whatever opportunities I get against South Africa, I want to finish those matches. I want to prove myself in ODIs and Tests too.”
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 02, 2025, 23:30 IST
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