Tilak Varma Jokes Ishan Kishan Didn't Share Batting Strike

During the T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, Ishan Kishan scored a strong 77 runs. Afterwards, his teammate Tilak Varma joked that he didn't get much chance to bat himself because Kishan kept the strike.
By Newsroom | Cricket, T20 World Cup |

A recent T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan saw a notable interaction between teammates Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan. Following a match where Ishan Kishan scored 77 runs, Tilak Varma made a lighthearted comment about not receiving enough opportunities to bat himself during the initial phase of the game, known as the powerplay.

'Strike hi nahi mila powerplay mein': Tilak Varma hilariously accuses Ishan Kishan despite his gamechanging 77 vs Pakistan at T20 WC 2026 - 1

Match Context and Key Performances

The T20 World Cup 2026 match between India and Pakistan was a significant fixture. In this particular encounter, Ishan Kishan played a pivotal role, scoring 77 runs. Tilak Varma also contributed, scoring an unbeaten 69 in a separate match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. His innings of 69 runs off 53 balls, including four sixes, was crucial in India recovering from an early difficult situation.

'Strike hi nahi mila powerplay mein': Tilak Varma hilariously accuses Ishan Kishan despite his gamechanging 77 vs Pakistan at T20 WC 2026 - 2

  • Specific match details regarding the Pakistan game where Kishan scored 77 are not fully elaborated, beyond the fact that his batting was described as a "brutal Powerplay onslaught" that shifted the game's momentum.

  • In a T20 World Cup match against the USA, India's batting lineup, including Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and others, experienced a collapse, losing three wickets in the final over of the powerplay, resulting in a total of 46 runs for 4 wickets at that stage.

  • A warm-up match prior to the T20 World Cup saw Ishan Kishan score 53 runs off 20 balls against South Africa, with Tilak Varma also performing well. This match suggested Ishan Kishan was favored to open the innings.

Varma's Assessment of Kishan's Innings

During the post-match discussion or in an interview, Tilak Varma offered his perspective on Ishan Kishan's performance. While acknowledging Kishan's impactful innings, Varma humorously stated that he himself did not get to bat much during the powerplay overs.

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'Strike hi nahi mila powerplay mein': Tilak Varma hilariously accuses Ishan Kishan despite his gamechanging 77 vs Pakistan at T20 WC 2026 - 3

"The way Ishan has batted, from the other end, I also felt like I didn't get the strike in the powerplay."

This remark, described as "hilarious" and a "cheeky" observation, suggests Kishan's aggressive batting kept the strike and opportunities away from his partner. Varma added that if a wicket fell at his end, he would be ready to stabilize the innings.

'Strike hi nahi mila powerplay mein': Tilak Varma hilariously accuses Ishan Kishan despite his gamechanging 77 vs Pakistan at T20 WC 2026 - 4

External Factors and Player Dynamics

The interaction between Varma and Kishan occurs within a broader context of team selection and player performance.

  • Prior to the IPL 2025 season, the Mumbai Indians franchise chose to retain Tilak Varma over Ishan Kishan as one of their five retained players. This decision was met with some criticism from fans of the franchise.

  • In a past match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Tilak Varma faced a verbal taunt from a Pakistani cricketer, who reportedly said, "This is not Mumbai or IPL." Varma responded with a strong performance, scoring an unbeaten half-century.

Broader Tournament Performance

The T20 World Cup 2026 has showcased varied performances from the Indian team.

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  • India faced challenges against the USA, where the batting order struggled during the powerplay.

  • Warm-up matches indicated a potential opening partnership between Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, with Kishan showing strong form.

Expert and Public Reaction

The comments from Tilak Varma have been widely reported and characterized as a humorous observation on Ishan Kishan's dominant batting display. The focus remains on Kishan's significant contribution to the team's success in that match against Pakistan.

Conclusion and Implications

The exchange between Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan highlights the camaraderie and competitive spirit within the Indian cricket team. Varma's comment, while playful, underscores Kishan's aggressive batting style that dominated the powerplay overs. Despite Varma's humorous complaint about strike rate, the team's performance, particularly Kishan's substantial score, was critical. The varying performances against different opponents, such as the USA, and past team decisions, like IPL retentions, add layers to the ongoing narrative of the team's T20 World Cup campaign.

Sources Used:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Tilak Varma say about Ishan Kishan's batting?
Tilak Varma joked that he didn't get to bat much during the powerplay because Ishan Kishan was hitting the ball so well and keeping the strike.
Q: How many runs did Ishan Kishan score?
Ishan Kishan scored 77 runs in the match against Pakistan.
Q: Was Tilak Varma also playing well?
Yes, Tilak Varma has also scored well in other matches, like 69 runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
Q: Did this happen in a big match?
Yes, this happened during the T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan.