Asian Games 2023: Tilak Varma celebrates in special way after reaching quickfire half-century versus Bangladesh

India and Bangladesh locked horns in the first semi-final of the men's cricket event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China.

Tilak Varma, who made his international debut earlier this year during India's tour of the Caribbean, scored an excellent half-century during India's chase of a paltry target of 97 runs. After reaching the individual milestone, the talented youngster lifted his shirt to show his parents' tattoos.

Fifty for Tilak Varma in just 25 balls, and he celebrates it with a unique style.

📸: Sony LIV pic.twitter.com/vBOwXJ62ml

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 6, 2023

Earlier in the day, India won the toss and opted to field first. The Bangladeshi batters struggled to come to terms with the sluggish nature of the track at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field and managed to score only 96 runs in their 20 overs, for the loss of nine wickets. The Indian management should be applauded for reading the conditions well and bringing spin-bowling all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed into the playing XI, in place of Avesh Khan. The 16 overs of spin bowled at Bangladesh went for just 71 runs and yielded eight wickets.

In reply, the 'Men in Blue' were jolted early as Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed in the first over itself. However, Tilak joined forces with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and formed a belligerent 97-run partnership off 52 balls to take India home, with nine wickets in the bank and 64 balls to spare. Tilak remained unbeaten on 55 off 26 balls, hitting two fours and six sixes. Ruturaj, on the other hand, finished on 40* off 26 balls and his knock comprised four fours and three sixes.

India easily cruise into the final of the Asian Games 2023 with a chance to clinch Gold Medal

After the dominating performance against the Bangla Tigers, the Indian team now await the result of the second semifinal match of the Asian Games 2023 cricket competition. Notably, Team India will face the winner of the second semi-final, between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in the gold medal match on Saturday, October 7, at the same venue. This thumping win against Bangladesh will surely give the young Indian side a lot of confidence as they look to bag the gold medal.