Tilak Varma became the second youngest Indian male cricketer to score a T20I century, following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s milestone in the Asian Games 2023. Varma’s century came in a thrilling encounter against South Africa in the third T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on Wednesday (November 14). The left-hander reached his hundred in 51 balls at the age of 22 years and five days, compared to Jaiswal, who scored his century at 21 years and 279 days.
Match-winning knock for India by Tilak Varma: 107 not out in 56 balls
Batting at No. 3 after Sanju Samson’s dismissal in the first over, Varma initially took a cautious approach to settle in. However, as the innings progressed, he switched gears, launching an aggressive attack on South Africa’s bowlers. After scoring 33 and 20 in the previous two games, Varma seized this opportunity to showcase his batting prowess after Samson’s early dismissal for a duck.
Tilak first built a solid 107-run partnership for the second wicket, which set a strong foundation for India’s innings. Later, he partnered with Rinku Singh for a rapid 58-run stand off just 30 balls for the fifth wicket, with Varma contributing 45 runs off 17 balls in this partnership. His powerful hitting pushed India closer to the 200-run mark, helping build a competitive total.
Finishing unbeaten on 107 off 56 balls, Varma’s innings was packed with eight fours and seven sixes, driving India to a total of 219/6 in 20 overs. India eventually secured victory by 11 runs, with Varma’s performance being the centerpiece of this memorable win.
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Interesting facts about Tilak Varma’s career
1. Early Life and Family Background
Tilak, born Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma on November 8, 2002, in Hyderabad, Telangana, grew up in a family facing financial difficulties. His father, Namboori Nagaraju, worked as an electrician, while his mother, Gayatri Devi, managed the household. Despite limited resources, Tilak’s family supported his cricket aspirations from a young age. Tilak is an avid animal lover and owns a pet dog named Trigger. He is also known to have a deep faith in Lord Ganesha, often paying homage to the deity and seeking blessings before matches.
2. Education, cricket training and idol
Tilak’s education began at Crescent Model English School and later continued at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School in Hyderabad. He completed his secondary education at Lepakshi Junior College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration from Andhra University. Noticing his talent and passion for the game, coach Salim Bayash took Tilak under his wing at age 10, training him at the Legala Sports Academy. Bayash’s mentorship and dedication, even traveling over 40 kilometers each day, were pivotal in shaping Tilak’s early cricketing skills.
His journey in cricket began formally when he joined the Legala Cricket Academy in Lingampally, where Bayash trained him intensively. This close bond with his coach, coupled with early exposure to competitive cricket, set a strong foundation for Tilak’s career. Tilak credits Suresh Raina as his cricketing idol, inspired by Raina’s aggressive playing style and consistency.
3. Domestic Career with Hyderabad
Tilak made his first-class debut for Hyderabad in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy on December 30, 2018, showcasing his promise as a middle-order batter. During the season, he scored 215 runs with an impressive strike rate of 147.26 in seven matches, which led to his selection for Hyderabad’s List A team. In his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on September 28, 2019, he scored 180 runs and took four wickets over five matches. His all-around performance soon garnered attention, resulting in his inclusion in India’s Under-19 squad for the 2020 ICC Cricket World Cup.
4. Rise in the IPL with Mumbai Indians
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction, Tilak was bought by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for Rs. 1.7 crore, marking a major milestone in his career. He quickly made an impact, with standout performances like his 33-ball 61 against Rajasthan Royals (RR). He continued his strong form in 2023, scoring 84 off 46 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and a quick 43 off 14 balls in a playoff against Gujarat Titans (GT). His contributions strengthened his reputation as a promising young talent in the IPL, laying the groundwork for his entry into international cricket.
5. International Career and Breakthrough Performances
Tilak’s IPL success paved the way for his call-up to the Indian T20I squad in July 2023. He made his debut on August 3, 2023, against the West Indies, where he top-scored with 39 off 22 balls and took two catches. Just days later, he scored his maiden international fifty, becoming the second-youngest Indian to reach the milestone after Rohit Sharma. This impressive series made him India’s leading run-scorer and solidified his position in the squad. He was subsequently named in India’s T20I squads for the Ireland series and the Asian Games 2022.
Tilak made his ODI debut on September 15, 2023, against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, continuing his steady rise on the international stage. His most notable achievement came on November 13, 2024, when he scored his maiden T20I century with a remarkable 107* off 56 balls against South Africa. This inning made him the youngest player to hit a T20I century against a Top 10 nation and the second-youngest overall to reach the feat after Yashasvi Jaiswal.
