Tilak Varma Talks About the Tough Jump From a Five‑Day Duleep Final to T20 Cricket

On the eve of the Duleep Trophy showdown in Chennai, South Zone skipper Tilak Varma was candid about the road ahead. He told reporters that his side is used to tweaking their game for different pitches, but hopping from a grueling five‑day final straight into a high‑octane T20I series is, well, a bit tricky.

“We’ve played a lot of domestic cricket, in every condition you can think of, so we can adjust,” Varma said, a hint of a smile crossing his face. “But after five days of Test‑style cricket and then joining the T20 squad for Afghanistan – that’s going to be slightly challenging.”

The South Zone will lock horns with East Zone on Sunday, vying for the coveted Duleep Trophy. After the title clash, Varma is slated to report to Delhi for a short two‑day break before he’s back in the fray with India’s T20I squad.

“We have a couple of days in Delhi to rest, do a bit of practice and sort out our bodies,” he added. “We know how to switch mind‑sets, stay hydrated and keep the body in shape. We’ve done back‑to‑back games before, both domestically and internationally, so we’re not strangers to this.”

Varma’s words echo a broader theme in modern cricket – the constant shuffle between formats. Over the past four months he’s toggled between first‑class, List A for India A in Sri Lanka, and now the shortest format. That breadth of experience, he hopes, will smooth the transition.

He’s not alone in juggling schedules. East Zone captain Ishan Kishan and vice‑captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will also face a three‑day gap before the Afghanistan T20 series begins. Both camps know the drill: rest, recover, and hit the switch button.

While the challenge is real, Varma’s confidence shines through. “We’ve got enough time, we’ve got the right attitude, and we’ll do what we have to do,” he concluded, eyes already scanning the pitch for tomorrow’s battle.