‘Finally someone said it’ – AB de Villiers backs Harsha Bhogle’s narrative regarding Tilak Varma’s 49* controversy

Harsha Bhogle and AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images and Twitter)

Youngster Tilak Varma missed his second half-century in international cricket by a whisker in the third T20I between West Indies and India in Guyana. The cricketer was batting on 49* when skipper Hardik Pandya smashed a cracking six to finish off the game in style. That created a new controversy in Indian cricket as fans on various social media platforms expressed their disappointment to see Hardik finish off the game when Tilak had the opportunity to touch another milestone.

Seeing the development, renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle opened up and stated that he is puzzled to see so many people discussing about the event, especially when scoring 50 isn’t considered to be a landmark in the shortest format of the game. He also added saying that the fans are too obsessed with individual achievements and that needs to stop for the growth of Indian cricket.

“I am puzzled by the discussion around Tilak Varma missing out on a 50. It isn’t a landmark, in fact, other than a century (which is rare), there are no landmarks in T20 cricket. We are far too obsessed with individual achievement within a team sport. I don’t believe 50s should be recorded in individual stats in T20 cricket. If you have made enough runs quickly enough (avg and SR), that is all that matters,” Harsha Bhogle said in a tweet.

Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers has agreed to the same and thanked Bhogle for finally saying that it needed to be said.

“Thank you thank you thank you. Finally someone says it,” de Villiers mentioned.

Thank you thank you thank you. Finally someone says it!

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) August 10, 2023

Indian team travels to USA for final two T20Is

After losing the first two T20Is of the series, team India made an emphatic return in the third match and won by seven wickets. The Hardik Pandya-led side will be aiming to keep up with the momentum and win the final two matches in the United States of America to bag the series.

India’s opening meanwhile looks a bit shaky at the moment and that needs to be looked after in the remaining two matches. Rest, they are unlikely to make any changes.