Tilak repays Surya's faith with No. 3 knock

PTI Centurion: Tilak Varma did not want to become a source of chagrin for his skipper Suryakumar Yadav after requesting him for the number three slot in the batting order in the third T20I against South Africa. And he didn't. Varma had batted at number four in Durban and Gqueberha, scoring 33 and 20. Surya, who himself batted at number three, after giving it a thought, obliged his young teammate. "In Gqeberha, he (Tilak) came to my room and said, 'Give me the opportunity to bat at No. 3. Let me express myself'," said Surya. Now it was for Varma to make the most of the opportunity and responded with a match-wining century. After reaching his 51-ballcentury, second fifty coming in just 19 balls, Varma pointed towards the dug-out and blew a flying kiss to acknowledge his captain.

"It was for 'SKY', our skipper because he gave me a chance to bat at number three," Varma told reporters after India's 11-run win on Wednesday night. "I love batting at number three, but in last two matches, I played at number four. Last night he came to my room and said that 'You will bat No. 3' and he said it's a good opportunity. Go and express yourself.