Pakistan had earlier threatened to boycott the marquee encounter in Colombo but later reversed its decision, paving the way for one of cricket’s most eagerly awaited contests. Reflecting on the development, Tilak said, “To be honest, we are very excited to play. We got to know that the match is going to take place the day before. We are ready to play. We are watching all the teams. We are watching the bowlers and the batsmen.”
He added, “All the players and team members are ready to play. Now, we are in the match zone. The planning will start,” indicating that India’s preparations for the Colombo showdown are already in motion.
Despite concerns over Pakistan’s potential advantage of being based in Sri Lanka for a longer period, Tilak stressed that India’s approach will remain methodical. “We are going one by one in every match… we have video analysis, technology, and we will see how the wicket is behaving. Everyone has different shots, and we will decide which bowlers to target,” he explained.
Known for his naturally attacking style, Tilak emphasized his willingness to adapt depending on the match situation. Reflecting on India’s opening win against the USA, where wickets fell in quick succession, he revealed that head coach Gautam Gambhir has encouraged flexibility in the batting order. “Gautam bhai has asked us to play cautiously if wickets fall quickly. Suryakumar bhai and I can anchor the innings if needed,” he said.
Having recently returned from injury, Tilak expressed his satisfaction at being back on the world stage. “Happy that I am back in the World Cup side. The only aim is to help the team win the cup,” he concluded.
