"Suryakumar Yadav might be thinking why he did that" - Aakash Chopra on Tilak Varma scoring 2nd successive century at No. 3 in IND vs SA 2024 4th T20I

Aakash Chopra has lauded Tilak Varma for scoring his second successive century in the fourth T20I between India and South Africa. He light-heartedly noted that Suryakumar Yadav might be wondering whether he made the right decision to let the youngster bat at his own No. 3 position.

Tilak smashed an unbeaten 120 off 47 deliveries (nine boundaries, 10 sixes) as India posted 283 for one after opting to bat first in Johannesburg on Friday, November 15. The visitors then bowled the hosts out for 148 to register a resounding 135-run win and complete a 3-1 series victory.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener praised Tilak for making the most of Suryakumar's decision to send him at No. 3 in the last two T20Is.

"Tilak Varma came at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav might be thinking why he did that. He (Tilak) knocked on his door and said - 'Surya bhau, make me bat at No. 3', and he has scored two back-to-back centuries at No. 3," he said (6:00).

Chopra noted that Tilak joined Sanju Samson, who also scored a century in Friday's game, as the only Indians to score back-to-back T20I centuries.

"Sanju became the first player to score three T20I centuries in a year, incidentally, he has done it in five matches only. Tilak Varma became the second Indian, Sanju became the first Indian recently, to score two back-to-back centuries," he observed.

Samson achieved the feat when he scored 107 runs in the first T20I against South Africa after playing a 111-run knock in the final T20I against Bangladesh. Tilak had scored an unbeaten 107 in the previous game.

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"I am thinking what a great deal the Mumbai Indians have struck" - Aakash Chopra on MI's retention of Tilak Varma ahead of the IPL 2025 auction

The Mumbai Indians retained Tilak Varma for ₹8 crore. [P/C: iplt20.com]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Mumbai Indians (MI) got a favorable deal as they retained Tilak Varma relatively cheaply.

"I am thinking what a great deal the Mumbai Indians have struck. They have picked Tilak Varma cheaply. If Tilak had reached the auction after these two centuries, ₹15 crore would have been sure. However, any which way, India thrashed them a lot," he said (6:35).

While praising Tilak's strokeplay in Friday's game, the cricket-turned-commentator noted that the South African fielders helped his cause.

"In fact, I felt they slowed down a little in the end. If they had not slowed down, they would have scored 300 runs as well. No one was taking catches. Tilak Varma batted extremely well. He was hitting sixes even with reverse sweeps but South Africa came after applying butter on their hands," Chopra observed.

Chopra also praised Arshdeep Singh for striking early blows during South Africa's chase and opined that the left-arm seamer will likely be sold for an exorbitant amount at the auction.

"Then Arshdeep Singh was on a hat-trick but he missed that. The opposing team was absolutely demolished. Arshdeep Singh has said that he would also not go for less than ₹15 crore because death, taxes, and wickets with the the new ball for Arshdeep Singh are permanent," he stated.

Arshdeep registered figures of 3/20 in three overs. He dismissed Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen in his first two overs to virtually seal India's win.