'I love playing Test cricket': After Duleep Trophy heroics, Tilak Varma opens up on his India ambition

South Zone captain Tilak Varma reaffirmed his love for red-ball cricket after guiding his side into the Duleep Trophy final, saying playing Test cricket for India has always been one of his ambitions.Tilak played two unbeaten knocks of 116 and 51 against North Zone to steer South Zone into the summit clash against East Zone. The 23-year-old, who is India's T20I vice-captain, said his performances were also driven by his desire to make a case for a Test call-up.“I have always loved to play red-ball cricket, and I have never dreamt of playing white-ball formats for India, but that's God's plan. I have debuted in T20s and ODIs for India, but my strength has always been red-ball cricket,” Tilak said after the match.'My strength has always been red-ball cricket'Tilak has made 53 T20I and five ODI appearances for India over the last three years, but insisted that his rise in white-ball cricket never came at the expense of his red-ball ambitions.“I have worked hard, no one has seen it, maybe since I was 10 years old, and now I am 23. I got selected to white-ball formats due to the IPL. But before that I have ground a lot in red-ball cricket,” he said.“So, it's always my strength and I love playing Test cricket, something that's always there in my blood,” he added.Tilak said his opportunities to play domestic red-ball cricket have been limited in recent years because of India's international schedule. He added that he has been trying to feature in as much Ranji Trophy cricket as possible whenever his commitments allow.“For my country, right now, I am available for T20s and ODIs, but I love to play red-ball cricket. But I don't have much time to play domestic red-ball cricket because in the last three-four years I was trying to play the Ranji Trophy,” he said.“But I am not getting the time because I have an international schedule. So, I am trying to play as much red-ball cricket because I want to score there and come to the Indian side as well,” Varma added.Tilak's twin unbeaten knocks seal South Zone's final spotTilak's comments came after another impressive all-round batting performance in the semifinal against North Zone. South Zone chased down 181 in the second innings to win by seven wickets, with Tilak remaining unbeaten on 51 and sharing an unbroken 79-run partnership with R Smaran.Earlier, MD Nidheesh's five-wicket haul helped South Zone bowl North Zone out for 297. Tilak had already laid the foundation for the victory with his unbeaten 116 in the first innings, after South Zone were reduced to 80/5. His 175-run partnership with Shreyas Gopal, who scored 87, helped South Zone take a crucial 117-run first-innings lead.South Zone will now face East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 6.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.