'For my Mom, Best Friend Sammy': Tilak Varma on Why he Lifted His Jersey to Celebrate Half-century in Asian Games Semi-final

Tilak Varma has revealed why he celebrated his quickfire half-century by lifting his jersey to reveal tattoos of his parents. The youngster was in red-hot form as he smacked two fours and six sixes in his unbeaten 26-ball 55 against Bangladesh in the men’s cricket semi-final clash of the Asian Games in China.

India chased down the small target of 97 in just 9.2 over for a crushing nine-wicket win to make it to the gold-medal clash.

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Tilak reached his second half-century of T20I career with a six and then celebrated the milestone in in unique way which he said was dedicated to his mother as he had promised her to score a fifty or win India a game after undergoing a lean patch.

And he added that Rohit Sharma’s daughter Samaira was also included in his celebration.

When Tilak had scored his maiden T20I fifty during the West Indies tour, even then he had dedicated his celebration to Samaira.

Meanwhile, India produced a superb show against Bangladesh earlier in the morning to storm into the final of the Asian Games. They were given a scare by Nepal win the quarter-final earlier this week but in the last-four stage, stepped up.

Gaikwad opted to bowl first and then spinners took over to restrict Bangladesh to 96/9 in 20 overs.

India then lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early in the chase before Tilak and Gaikwad began pummelling Bangladeshi bowlers to all parts of the park.

Tilak remained unbeaten on 55 off 26 while Gaikwad made 40 not out as India chased down the target in just 9.2 overs.