Tilak Varma [Source: screengrab]Tilak Varma struggled to get going against Sri Lanka A bowlers in the opening match of the Sri Lanka 2026 tri-series. Taking on the hosts in Dambulla, the elegant left-handed batter scored just 60 runs from 97 balls, thus maintaining a below par strike rate of 61.85. Moreover, at one stage of his innings, Tilak reached 16* off 44 balls, and it took him 85 deliveries to get to his half-century. His latest knock sparked much debate among Indian cricket fans on social media, with many questioning if the Mumbai Indians star is truly worthy of his newfound vice-captaincy role for the Indian national cricket team. Fans troll Tilak Varma for sluggish knock Indian cricket fans targeted Tilak Varma for his sluggish knock against Sri Lanka A in match number one of the tri-series in Dambulla on Tuesday, June 9. Hitting just two boundaries and one six in his entire 97-ball stay at the crease, the cricketer was questioned for his apparent inability in tackling spin and for failing to rotate the strike. Also Read- Options Better Than Tilak Varma Who Could Have Been Picked In India’s T20 Squads vs Ireland, EnglandTilak also visibly faced more online scrutiny owing to the timing of his knock, considering the left-hander came up a sluggish approach shortly after getting appointed as India’s next vice-captain. Here is a look at some of the fans targeting the Mumbai Indians star for his failure to dispatch the Sri Lanka A bowling attack.Anamika 💊🩺 @TheRubric_Medic Tilak tuktuk Varma for India A & India in ODIs: vs SA - 1*(3) with 33 sr vs SA - 10(30) with 33 sr vs SA - 52(77) with 67 sr vs Ban - 5(9) with 55 sr vs SA A - 39(58) with 67 sr vs SA A - 11(23) with 48 sr vs Aus A - 3(6) with 50 sr vs Aus A - 94(122) with 77 sr vs SL A - 60(97) Jun 9, 2026, 1:50 PM 𝚅𝚊𝚛𝚞𝚗¹⁸ @varunx18 How on earth did Tilak Varma get the T20I vice captaincy ahead of Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya? Jun 9, 2026, 1:26 PM Mahi Shankar @Itz_Ms7 Tilak verma may be a good batter But he's surely not captaincy material, He can't even rotate the strike in pressure 🏏. Jun 9, 2026, 12:48 PM 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 @bholination - Greatest to bat at Number 3 saar🤡 - Tilak should replace kohli saar🤡 - Kohli scored 54(63) in final, he played slow saar🤡 Meanwhile the fraud Tilak Verma 50(85)* against the Sri Lanka C team. Jun 9, 2026, 12:59 PM 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 @Shebas_10dulkar Tri Series: (INDA v SLA) Tilak Varma got out on 60 (97) Only 3 Boundaries in 97 Deliveries 😷 Jun 9, 2026, 1:22 PM Tilak Varma was recently named India vice-captain Not long ago, the BCCI named a strong Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series in Ireland and England. While the men’s selection committee picked Shreyas Iyer as India’s next T20I captain as a replacement for struggling Suryakumar Yadav, the committee also named Tilak Varma as the new vice-captain of the national T20I side. Varma has already played 49 T20I matches for the Indian cricket team ever since his international debut in August 2023. Apart from headlining India’s comprehensive 3-1 T20I series win in South Africa in 2024, the cricketer also anchored India’s 2025 Asia Cup triumph in the UAE against arch-rivals Pakistan. India A chart 277 despite Varma knock, Sooryavanshi failure Winning the toss and opting to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, India A lost teenage opener and rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for just 14 off 12 balls. Prabhsimran Singh also departed for just 2 as the visitors lost both their openers by the time of reaching 16 in 4.1 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four bludgeoned 101 runs off just 114 balls with six cracking boundaries and three huge sixes to steer India A towards a competitive 277-6. Batting at number five, team captain Tilak Varma scored a sluggish 60 off 97 balls, before Ayush Badoni and Suryansh Shedge slapped swift 20s in the backend of the innings. For Sri Lanka A, Mohamed Shiraz picked up two wickets in the innings, and Chamika Karunaratne, Garuka Sanketh and Wanuja Sahan chipped in with a wicket each. Also Read- Gautam Gambhir's Former Ally Leaves Out Ishan Kishan From India's Playing XI Vs Afghanistan
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