After scoring back-to-back T20I hundreds against SA, the young star Tilak Varma jumped in the air and celebrated it with a ‘flying kiss’ and said, “In fact, I wanted to share something funny- last year, when I played here, I was dismissed on the first delivery. This innings played a critical role for the team and the series.”
Tilak Varma made history in the fourth and final T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg, with the Men in Blue winning by a significant 135-run margin. The 22-year-old joined a prestigious group of Indian players, including Sanju Samson, by scoring centuries in back-to-back T20I innings.
For those watching Tilak since his IPL days, especially past few seasons, Tilak Varma is a familiar name. He has emerged as a rising talent for Mumbai Indians – a successful team undergoing changes. The youngster met expectations in International cricket also, making a strong start to his senior career with scores of 39, 51, and 49* in three out of five T20I matches against the West Indies.
How it all began
Close to Tilak Varma’s residence is the Legala Cricket Academy, where the head coach, Salam Bayash, is accustomed to hearing about his students achieving success, although none have surpassed his most obedient pupil.
When Tilak debuted for India, his coach in an Interview with the Quint had said, “I am beyond words to convey the extent of my pride. Tilak informed me over the phone, saying- Sir, you used to say that your dream is for me to play for India, Yehi ho raha hai.
However, it all began much before….
Enrolling in the academy ticked a box for Tilak, but there was still a long road ahead, both metaphorically and physically.
Tilak would journey approximately 10 kilometers from his residence in Balapur to Chandrayangutta, where his coach would pick him up. After that, Bayash would ride his bike 40 kilometers to the academy in Serilingampally and then drive him back after practice.
PC: The Quint
This pattern was adhered to for twelve months, up until Bayash recognized that the busy hustle and bustle would ultimately impact the player’s endurance, and therefore, his abilities.
Also read: Sanju Samson Becomes First Player to Achieve Massive T20I Feat, Report Tells the Whole Story
Another request from the coach to Tilak’s father followed. “The coach asked me to move closer to the academy as the daily commute was getting too tiring for my son. Because Tilak was performing well in the sport and advancing, I decided to move out of our house and rent a place near the field,” Nagaraja had said during Interview with The Quint.
There was no looking behind for Tilak after that. He went on an unprecedented successful journey.
Varma played his first ever first-class match for Hyderabad during the 2018-19 season. One year later, he was selected to participate in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup held in South Africa. He participated in all six matches during India’s journey to the championship, accumulating 86 runs in three turns at bat.
His displays in regional cricket caught the attention of the IPL teams. He scored 215 runs for Hyderabad in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, ranking as the team’s second-highest run-scorer, with a strike rate of 147.26 in seven innings. During the IPL 2022 auction, Mumbai Indians purchased him for INR 1.70 crore, and he quickly became an integral part of the team.
And as they say, the rest is history. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a highly successful international career…
