Tilak Varma Breaks Silence After Massive Criticism Over His Run-Out In 3rd West Indies T20I

Tilak Varma in action during third T20I against West Indies.© NDTV Library

Tilak Varma has broken his silence on his controversial run-out that took place during India's third T20I against the West Indies in Indore on Sunday. It happened on the fourth ball of the 17th over after Axar Patel flicked Gudakesh Motie's delivery towards square leg. Kamil Pooran put in a dive and somehow managed to keep the ball in play. Both Indian batters believed the ball had touched the boundary rope, and the West Indies took advantage of the opportunity. They clipped off the bails at both ends with ease. While Axar managed to get to the striker's end in time, Tilak had no idea what was happening. He remained out of the frame when bowler Motie clipped off the bails at the non-striker's end.

"Both Axar and I felt the same way. We thought it was a boundary, which is why I was walking. Unfortunately, the ball was thrown to Axar's end, and he was shown the ball," Tilak said on the eve of the fourth T20I.

"I did not see the ball. I thought it had gone for four, so I was walking. But these things happen in cricket," he added.

In the game, India defeated the West Indies by 14 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a target of 224 runs, the visitors were restricted to 209/7 in 20 overs. Shimron Hetmyer (43) and Kamil Pooran (42) led the fightback, but India managed to edge their opponents in a tight contest. For India, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh regained his mojo with figures of 3/44.

Earlier, opener Abhishek Sharma struck a quickfire 69 off 30 balls to help the hosts post a competitive 223 all out after being asked to bat. The southpaw smashed six fours and five sixes during his knock. Besides Abhishek, Ishan Kishan made 37 off 18 balls, while vice-captain Tilak Varma scored 28 off 16 balls. Nitish Kumar Reddy (21 off 14) and Axar Patel (20 off 14) also played useful knocks. For the West Indies, Roston Chase (2/38) and Shamar Springer (2/50) picked up two wickets apiece.

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