Tilak Varma's fighting half-century was one of the few positives for India in their dramatic one-run defeat to Ireland in the second T20I on Sunday, but the left-hander also found himself on an unwanted list after registering one of the slowest fifties by an Indian in T20 Internationals.
Walking in with India in deep trouble after a top-order collapse, Tilak reached his half-century in 45 deliveries during the chase of 155 at Stormont. The knock is now tied as the sixth-slowest T20I fifty by an Indian and stands as the slowest-ever half-century by an Indian batter against Ireland in the format.
Slowest T20I 50s for India (by ******* )
56 KL Rahul vs SA Trivandrum 2022
54 G Gambhir vs Aus Melbourne 2012
49 SK Yadav vs USA New York 2024
48 V Kohli vs SA Bridgetown 2024
45 V Kohli vs Pak Dubai 2021
45 T Varma vs Ire Belfast 2026 *
The circumstances, however, were far from ordinary. India were rocked in the opening over when software engineer-turned-cricketer Jai Moondra, who hails from Tonk in Rajasthan and still holds an Indian passport, dismissed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before removing captain Shreyas Iyer to leave the visitors reeling.
India slipped to 35 for 4 inside the Powerplay after Ishan Kishan was run out, leaving Tilak with the task of rebuilding the innings on a surface offering movement, uneven bounce and seam throughout the chase.
Unlike several of his teammates who struggled to adjust to the conditions, Tilak adopted a patient approach, absorbing pressure before stitching together a valuable partnership with Axar Patel. He eventually brought up his fifty by launching Matthew Hollard over deep mid-wicket for India's first six of the innings.
The milestone, however, proved short-lived. Attempting another attacking stroke off the very next ball, Tilak mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover and departed for 55 off 46 deliveries, ending India's best hope of completing the chase.
Harshit Rana's late cameo of 21 from just 10 ******* briefly revived India's hopes, but Ireland held their nerve to restrict India to 153 for 9, sealing a famous one-run victory and completing a historic 2-0 series sweep over the reigning T20 World Cup champions.
The defeat also ended India's run of 16 consecutive T20I series victories dating back to 2023, while Ireland celebrated their first-ever bilateral T20I series triumph over India.
Walking in with India in deep trouble after a top-order collapse, Tilak reached his half-century in 45 deliveries during the chase of 155 at Stormont. The knock is now tied as the sixth-slowest T20I fifty by an Indian and stands as the slowest-ever half-century by an Indian batter against Ireland in the format.
Slowest T20I 50s for India (by ******* )
56 KL Rahul vs SA Trivandrum 2022
54 G Gambhir vs Aus Melbourne 2012
49 SK Yadav vs USA New York 2024
48 V Kohli vs SA Bridgetown 2024
45 V Kohli vs Pak Dubai 2021
45 T Varma vs Ire Belfast 2026 *
The circumstances, however, were far from ordinary. India were rocked in the opening over when software engineer-turned-cricketer Jai Moondra, who hails from Tonk in Rajasthan and still holds an Indian passport, dismissed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before removing captain Shreyas Iyer to leave the visitors reeling.
India slipped to 35 for 4 inside the Powerplay after Ishan Kishan was run out, leaving Tilak with the task of rebuilding the innings on a surface offering movement, uneven bounce and seam throughout the chase.
Unlike several of his teammates who struggled to adjust to the conditions, Tilak adopted a patient approach, absorbing pressure before stitching together a valuable partnership with Axar Patel. He eventually brought up his fifty by launching Matthew Hollard over deep mid-wicket for India's first six of the innings.
The milestone, however, proved short-lived. Attempting another attacking stroke off the very next ball, Tilak mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover and departed for 55 off 46 deliveries, ending India's best hope of completing the chase.
Harshit Rana's late cameo of 21 from just 10 ******* briefly revived India's hopes, but Ireland held their nerve to restrict India to 153 for 9, sealing a famous one-run victory and completing a historic 2-0 series sweep over the reigning T20 World Cup champions.
The defeat also ended India's run of 16 consecutive T20I series victories dating back to 2023, while Ireland celebrated their first-ever bilateral T20I series triumph over India.
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