![](\"https:\/\/c.ndtvimg.com\/2023-08\/rd1hruog_tilak-varma-hardik-pandya_625x300_09_August_23.jpg?im=FeatureCrop,algorithm=dnn,width=806,height=605\" "\\"Watch:")
<\/div>\nTilak Varma and Hardik Pandya after India’s third T20I win vs WI.\u00a9 AFP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Facing a must-win situation in the third T20I against West Indies on Tuesday, the Indian cricket team came out all guns blazing to register a big victory and keep the series alive. Performances from Tilak Varma<\/a>, Kuldeep Yadav<\/a>, Suryakumar Yadav<\/a> helped India seal the deal. Varma grabbed everyone’s attention as he slammed 49* off 37 balls and stitched important stands with Suryakumar (83) and captain Hardik Pandya<\/a> (20*). Varma has been a great performer in the T20Is for Mumbai Indians as well. His attacking play against the best of bowlers has been widely appreciated.<\/p>\n Player like Ravichandran Ashwin<\/a> has also hinted that Varma can be an answer to India’s contingency plans for the ODI World Cup. “This is neck-and-neck with respect to the World Cup. So, will they think about Tilak Varma as an option if we don’t have enough backups? Because Sanju Samson<\/a> has performed really well in ODIs. But the exciting part about Tilak Varma is that he is a left-hander and Team India is lacking left-handers. Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja<\/a>) is the only left-handed batter in the top 7,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.<\/p>\n Even Pandya is also appreciative of \u00a0Varma’s potential. During the third T20I, Pandya could be heard giving pep-talk to Varma, when he was batting on 44 off 32 balls and India needed 12 off 23. “Tereko especially khatam karna hai, rukna hai. Gendo ka fark padta hai<\/em> (You have to stay there and finish the game. The number of balls faced makes a difference,” Hardik Pandya was heard saying in the stump-mic.<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/WYKar1hYFJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Nihari Korma (@NihariVsKorma) August 9, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Meanwhile, the Indian opening duo of Shubman Gill<\/a> and Ishan Kishan<\/a> achieved career-best rankings in the latest ODI list released on Wednesday, less than two months from the start of the 50-over World Cup in the country. Gill climbed two spots to be fifth overall and be within touching distance of Pakistani trio of Babar Azam<\/a>, Fakhar Zaman<\/a> and Imam-ul-Haq<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Pakistan skipper Babar remains well in front, Gill rose to 743 rating points on the back of his excellent series against the West Indies and has third-placed Zaman (755) and fourth-placed Imam-ul-Haq (745) well within his sight.<\/p>\n Kishan too earned a new career-best rating after jumping nine places to 36th overall, while Hardik Pandya improved 10 places to be placed 71st in the batting chart following his efforts against the West Indies.<\/p>\n With PTI inputs<\/p>\n Topics mentioned in this article<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n