'Gautam Gambhir puts me under pressure': India star makes big claim on Head Coach

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India's rising batter Tilak Varma highlighted head coach Gautam Gambhir's pivotal role in building his resilience during practice, ahead of the crucial second ODI against South Africa in Raipur.

This comes after India's thrilling 17-run victory in the series opener in Ranchi, where Virat Kohli smashed his record-extending 52nd ODI century and Rohit Sharma contributed a half-century to secure a 1-0 lead.​

Varma expressed excitement about longer formats like ODIs and Tests, noting the unique team dynamic with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. "When Rohit bhai and Virat bhai are in the same team, the confidence level is completely different. They have so much experience and knowledge, and I try to take as much advice from them as possible to get better," he said. He particularly values Kohli's guidance on fitness and quick running between wickets, aligning with his own strengths on the field.​

Varma praised Gambhir for instilling belief across formats through intense net sessions. "Gautam sir always gives me confidence. He tells me that if you have the skill, you can play all formats and do well in all formats. He puts me under pressure in practice sessions so I can learn how to handle pressure in matches," Varma revealed.

With 661 runs in 23 white-ball games at an average of 38.88 and a strike rate of 73.60-including four fifties and a century-Varma remains poised for a Test debut. Despite his recent form, the southpaw hasn't played in the South Africa ODI series, and is expected to remain on the sidelines. For the upcoming T20I series, Tilak expects a call-up as he has been a pivotal part of the team.