Suryakumar backs India’s new number three Tilak Varma to fill Kohli’s shoes in T20Is

As India closed the four-match T20I series against South Africa with a comprehensive 3-1 margin, Tilak Varma entered the record books with his second consecutive T20I ton.

Blazing his way to 120 runs off just 47 deliveries, Tilak became only the fifth batter to achieve consecutive centuries in T20I cricket and earned the Player of the Series award.

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav believes the 22-year-old is an ideal fit for the number three spot, furthermore equating him with former skipper Virat Kohli, who retired from the shortest format earlier this year.

"It was actually running in my mind that there has been a time when one man has batted consistently at No. 3 and done wonders for India," Suryakumar said after the fourth T20I in Johannesburg.

"So this was a perfect situation, perfect opportunity for a young guy and definitely someone like him, showing a lot of promise, and we both actually spoke to each other and said, 'I think it's the perfect time for someone like you to bat at number three, take that responsibility, not only now, but going forward as well'.

"And he just walked the talk. I mean, the way he batted at Supersport Park and also here today, it was incredible and I hope he continues to do the same things, same way, not only in T20 cricket, but for all formats for India."

Having featured in 20 T20Is for India so far, Tilak has 616 runs to his name at a strike rate touching 161, comprising two centuries and as many fifties.

Notching a hundred in the final T20I against the Proteas, Tilak was involved in a record-breaking partnership for India in the format, as he put together a 210 run unbeaten stand alongside Sanju Samson.

Coincidentally, Samson is the first Indian batter to have amassed two centuries in as many T20Is for India.

Having claimed his maiden T20I hundred for India in October against Bangladesh, Samson went on to score his second against South Africa in the first T20I, before finishing the series with his third.

Suryakumar believes Samson's recent exploits with the bat provide India with multiple batting options to bank on in the top order, with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal also in the fray.

"I'm sure when they (Jaiswal and Gill) come, we'll sit and talk about it, it will be difficult but it's a good headache to have going forward if you have 20-25 people and you have to make a team of 10-15, so it's quite a challenge and it's a good thing for every team, it feels good to see this," he said.