Top class fittings Tilak Varma and opener Pratika Rawal got the nod from the cricketer-turned-pundit who won the Orange Cap in the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League.
“Pratika Rawal. She suffered an injury during the World Cup and will return to the game with good form. I am looking forward to her coming and breaking a few records, and is doing exceptionally well. In men’s cricket, Tilak Verma, my standout player, kuch gazab hi krega (will do something extraordinary),” Uthappa said while speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, about his players to watch out for.
Tilak has played some brilliant knocks for the Indian team in the shortest format. Apart from his back-to-back centuries against South Africa in November 2024, Tilak hit a composed fifty in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan to win the Men in Blue the coveted title.
The 23-year-old Tilak has played 40 T20Is in which he has amassed 1182 runs at an average of 49.25 and a strike rate of 143.98. He has consolidated his place at the top of the rankings in the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team. The Hyderabad batsman will play a crucial role as India aim to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cup titles this year.
Tilak will also look to make a few more ODI appearances in 2026. He has played five ODIs, the last of which was against South Africa last month.
On the other hand, Pratika has been the epitome of consistency in ODI cricket since she made her international debut in December 2024. In 24 ODIs, she has amassed 1110 runs at an average of 50.45 and a strike rate of 82.83. The right-handed batswoman has seven fifties and two centuries to her name.
During the Women’s ODI World Cup last year, the 25-year-old played a key role for India, scoring 308 runs in six innings at an average of 51.33 before suffering an injury and missing the knockout matches.
Get every cricket update! Follow us:
#Robin #Uthappa #names #talented #young #Indian #players #watch