Tilak Varma, With his rock solid temperament and impeccable batting skills, he has become the center of attention especially after the second T20I match England in which he single-handedly turned the tide and saved the day for the Indian team. While the world only recently learned about his prowess with the bat, Varma has been one of Indian cricket’s brightest up-and-coming players for some time now.
Everything you need to know about Tilak Varma
1. Humble beginnings and a rare Ranji Trophy appearance
Cricket was an integral part of Varma’s life from a young age. As a child, Varma did not have the means to pursue private cricket training. But his first coach Salam Bayashtook care of his financial and equipment needs and ensured that a talented person like him gets an opportunity to learn and play cricket. Varma made his first national appearance for Hyderabad in the 2018-19 match against Andhra Pradesh. He was only 16 years old at the time of his first grade debut.
2. A rare opportunity at the U-19 World Cup
After his first appearance for his home team, the youngster saw another positive development the next year in 2019 when he was named in the Indian squad for the national team U-19 World Cup who reached the final of the youth tournament, but lost to the Bangladesh U-19 team, who were crowned winners that year. Varma scored 86 runs in 6 games during the prestigious tournament.
3. A dream run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021
The next big moment in his career came when he represented Hyderabad in the 2021-22 season Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and scored 215 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 147.26. These stats made him the next big thing in the T20 scene and paved the way for his future ventures.
4. The IPL saga
An impressive performance in the domestic T20 tournament paved his way to the World Cup Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2022, Mumbai Indians bought the youngster for INR 1.70 crore. In the debut season, Varma scored 397 runs, followed by another impressive run in the 2023 season where he scored 343 runs in 11 innings and established himself as a regular starter in the coveted T20 league.
Also read: IND vs ENG 2025: Tilak Varma sets a new record with his unbeaten win in India’s thrilling win in the 2nd T20I
5. His adventure with the national team
After his remarkable performance with the bat in the domestic circuit and for his IPL franchise, Varma made his first appearance for the national team against the West Indies in August 2023. Varma’s 39 off 22 in his debut match was crucial to the Indian innings, even though India missed the target by 4 runs.
6. A regular starter in India’s T20I team:
Through his impressive performances and match-winning ability, the 22-year-old has cemented his place as a regular in the Indian team. Varma has played a total of 21 T20I matches for India and scored 707 runs at a strike rate of 156.07.
7. An unforgettable tour of South Africa
An important highlight in Varma’s career was last year’s tour South Africa. In a remarkable batting performance, the youngster scored two unbeaten centuries in the entire series. First at Centurion where he scored 107 runs off 97 balls and another in the next game in Johannesburg where he scored a remarkable 120 runs off 69 balls.
8. A discreet family life
Varma’s parents, Namboori Nagaraju, an electrician, and Gayatri Devi, a housewife, currently live in Hyderabad. Varma comes from a financially weak background, but his parents always supported him in his ambition to play cricket and one day represent India. He also has an elder brother named Tarun Varma.
9. Reveal your spiritual side through tattoos
Aside from several memorable innings throughout his career. Varma also has a deep affinity towards his religion and spirituality. This is evident from several tattoos the teenager has on his body. The list includes Shiva tattoo, Lord Ganesha tattoo, Om Namah Shivay; the sacred chant of Lord Shiva and a bouquet of hibiscus on his body.
10. Significant admirers in the Indian team
Varma’s skills are well known in the Indian team. Indian ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma once proclaimed that he would one day be an all-format player for India; At that time, Varma was only 19 years old.
Tilak’s relationship with the T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his wife Devisha Shetty are also very special. The couple and the boy get along well and have been spotted eating together in the past.
