Yesterday evening’s mega clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Punjab Kings at Dharamshala, such a picturesque venue ended with the result that was as beaming with glory as the venue in Himachal Pradesh. Mumbai Indians were asked to chase a total that was north of 200 and in the end, they took the game to the final over with Tilak Varma playing an exceptional knock of 77 unbeaten runs. It’s one thing to score a half century and remain undefeated until very end, but it’s something quite another when you do so in a winning cause for your team, especially when the chips are down. And this is precisely what Varma did. How emphatic positive to see Mumbai Indians winning under Jaspreet Bumrah‘s maiden Captaincy assignment this season? Perhaps, just as amazing as witnessing the all round/play and daring batting by a Great left hand in the works, who happens to wear the Mumbai jersey. Isn’t it?

Sure, Tilak Varma has scored lots of runs in the IPL additions that have happened before. He has even hit more runs as an individual score than the 77 not out he scored last evening against Punjab. As a matter of fact, he scored his made in IPL century against Gujarat Titans in this very season of the IPL for Mumbai. But there was something special to this knock, a sense of occasion you could say. After the impact substitute, Rohit Sharma departed for a frail looking 20 something knock and Ryan Rickelton departed after the initial fireworks. Someone had to stay long and see to it that Mumbai walked over the ropes. This was even more essential because there was no Hardik Pandya and no SuryKumar Yadav in this side and that man became Tilak Varma.

The breathtaking timing, the ability to up the ante of scoring and change gears as required, and the overall tempo of the knock are just some of the great qualities that you as a fan admired about this gritty half century from Varma‘s bat- isn’t it? Now, rather interestingly he hit as many boundaries as he struck sixes. Six of them in the end forming a key partnership with Williams Jacks.

But towards the end, Varma, always appreciative and respectful of his senior Mumbai Indians colleague Rohit Sharma made a rather heartening gesture towards a relieved and happy looking dugout where the great man “Hitman” was himself sitting. He would make through his fingers the number 45- as a marked respect to Rohit’s iconic cricketing jersey number- and wave to the experienced matchwinner. Signalling to a titan of the game about the wholesome victorious feeling! And that was truly wonderful to see, wasn’t it?