EXCLUSIVE — Tilak Varma: “My target is to guide the team home, even when the asking rate is 12 an over”

Thirty kilometres from Hyderabad’s bustle, at the quiet NexGen Cricket Academy Ground in Thummukunta, Tilak Varma readies for another season — this time leading his State, before rejoining India’s squad for the Australia T20s later this month. Yet, for all the new weight of fame and international travel, his story began in the lanes of the Old City.

Every morning, a young Tilak would hop onto his coach Salam Bayash’s two-wheeler for the 60-kilometre round trip across Hyderabad’s chaotic streets, from his home in Balapur to the suburb of Lingampally six days a week for coaching. Amid the honking and rush, those rides forged something the city traffic lacked — discipline. Years later, that same discipline defines Tilak’s cricket.

Fresh from his exploits at the Asia Cup, where he played a sensational match-winning innings against Pakistan in the final, the 22-year-old from Hyderabad now looks ahead with purpose.

Tilak insists his technique hasn’t changed much. “The only thing I feel is that I’m more confident in playing some strokes — not only picking the gaps but also clearing the ground with greater ease,” he smiled.

Yet, for Tilak, confidence no longer means aggression alone. In the Asia Cup final, it meant control — the ability to hold back when instinct said attack. The reverse sweep and the switch hit may be his calling cards, but he left them in the kitbag that evening, proving he could win through patience as much as power.

He knows adaptability is key. “I have to be ready to accept any challenge, whether it’s batting from No. 3 to No. 7. I’m really working on mental toughness as much as skills. My target is to guide the team home, even when the asking rate is 12 an over. Never easy, but I’m learning to adapt.”

That adaptability reflects in his T20I record — a study in range and role-awareness. At No. 3, Tilak has piled up 443 runs at an average of 55.37 and a strike rate of 169.73, elite numbers that underline his authority as a top-order enforcer. Drop him to No. 4, and he remains just as productive: 435 runs at 62.14 with a strike rate of 134.67, thriving amid middle-overs traffic where others often stall. Even when slotted lower down — a 31 not out at No. 5, a 29 at No. 7 — he has found ways to make an impact. Across positions, his 10 fifty-plus scores and 50-plus career average reveal a batter capable of anchoring, accelerating, or rescuing, depending on what the game demands.

And fittingly, he batted at No. 4 in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan — a night that tested every ounce of that adaptability. India beat Pakistan by five wickets in a tense finish to retain the title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing 147, India lost three wickets in the opening three overs to give Pakistan hope. But Tilak’s unbeaten 53-ball 69 calmed things down, eventually taking the Men in Blue past the finish line. Reflecting on that Asia Cup final, Tilak was quick to point out that he’d done similar things before. “But since that knock came under such pressure, with everyone watching, now people know about my potential,” he laughed.

“Honestly, not many recognised my capabilities before that game. In that context, the innings was very significant. Now people say I can play according to the situation,” he added. Asked whether expectations bring pressure, Tilak dismissed the thought. “Playing for the country is a golden opportunity. Even if you’re a superstar, you must perform consistently. I can’t take even a single game lightly. But I don’t feel pressure — I’ve worked too hard for these chances. My goal is to seize them and finish matches.”

For Tilak, mindset is everything. “If you have confidence, you can handle any challenge with ease. My attitude is the same whether it’s club cricket, domestic matches, IPL or internationals. I love challenges and thrive on them.”

The coach who shaped him

If discipline is Tilak’s hallmark, credit goes to his childhood coach and mentor, Salam Bayash, now Head Coach at Legala Cricket Academy in Hyderabad. “I owe everything to him. He believed in me from the start. I can never forget those long scooter rides to training every day,” Tilak recalled.

“Salam bhai’s dream is that I become the No. 1 player in the world and win the World Cup. He always told me that there will be ups and downs, but a player should never fall short of giving 100 per cent. Consistency is key and that’s been my motto.”

It was Tilak’s consistent performances in domestic cricket that first caught the attention of IPL scouts. During the 2021–22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he emerged as Hyderabad’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing 215 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 147.26.

His form made heads turn at the IPL 2022 auction, where Mumbai Indians secured his services for Rs 1.70 crore — a move that proved instantly rewarding as Tilak slotted seamlessly into the side’s core group.

Those IPL performances fast-tracked his rise to the international stage. Tilak made his T20I debut against West Indies in Tarouba in 2023, announcing himself in style as his first two scoring shots — off just his second and third deliveries — sailed for sixes.

Turning points and lessons

But it was against South Africa a year later that he truly bloomed — twin centuries crafted not in haste but with the quiet certainty of a young man beginning to understand his own powers. “Those hundreds came at the right time, under tough conditions. They gave me the belief that I was ready for the big stage. Now I even feel like a senior player in this format,” he smiled.

Those knocks all but cemented Tilak’s place in India’s T20I setup as the natural successor to Kohli at No. 3. The opportunity came with a gesture of trust from skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who voluntarily dropped a spot to let the youngster bat in his preferred position.

Tilak repaid that faith in style. “Surya bhai’s best knocks have come at No. 4, so I asked if I could try at three. I told him, ‘You’ve made hundreds there, now let me show what I can do,’” he had told this publication.

Tilak was effusive in his praise for head coach Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar, also his IPL teammate at Mumbai Indians. “Gautam sir supports every player and gives us confidence. And when Surya says that even if you get out for zero, we’ll still back you — that message lifts your morale instantly. Both always tell us to express ourselves, and that’s a huge message.”

Beyond the T20 label

Tilak is determined not to be boxed in as a T20 specialist. “I’m good, but I want to be a complete all-format player. For me, Test cricket is the ultimate challenge. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m working really hard to get there.”

The Indian dressing room, he said, makes that journey easier. “The atmosphere and bonding are excellent. You never feel out of place. Everyone, including the support staff, is so good.”

A summer stint with Hampshire further underlined Tilak’s growing maturity, as he amassed 358 runs in four County Championship matches at an average just shy of 60, including two centuries and a fifty. The 22-year-old left-hander blended restraint with authority, batting with a calm assurance that spoke of an evolving all-format temperament.

“Playing County cricket had a big positive impact. I thought I might get an India-A call after that, but I’m happy with the backing I’ve got so far. Switching between red and white ball doesn’t bother me — if anything, it’s made me more positive and aggressive.

“Succeeding in different conditions and on tough tracks shows I’m ready for bigger opportunities. Mentally and physically, I feel ready to be an all-format player. I rarely miss domestic First-Class matches when available — domestic cricket is a huge platform to refine your game.”

Tilak’s rise stems from a steady progression through Under-16, U-19 and Ranji Trophy cricket. “Even if there’s no First-Class game, I’ll still play a club match. I just can’t stay away from cricket.” Tilak first flickered on the radar at a domestic U-16 tournament in 2018, where he plundered 960 runs for Hyderabad — a number so audacious it demanded attention. That same season, barely 16, he was fast-tracked into the Ranji Trophy side, making his First-Class debut for Hyderabad. The following year, he checked off the remaining boxes of the domestic circuit, featuring in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare trophies. By the time he topped the scoring charts in a quadrangular U-19 series involving South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand to seal his spot in India’s 2020 U-19 World Cup squad, Tilak had already lived a small career before turning eighteen — each innings sharpening the sense that his rise was not so much sudden as it was destined.

Filling big shoes

Tilak’s emergence coincides with the retirement of two giants — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. “They’re legends and inspirational figures. I’d like to be Tilak Varma in my own right.

“I do dream of finishing with most ICC trophies. If you remember, I started playing after the 2011 World Cup, and my dream is to win a World Cup for India,” he said.

Asked if he feels pressure to fill the void, Tilak replied, “I haven’t thought about that. My aim is to do well in every game. They are legends, and replacing them is impossible. But I’ll always give more than 100 per cent.”

Influences and gratitude

Ahead of his first season with Mumbai Indians, then captain Rohit had quickly recognised Tilak’s rare blend of technique and temperament, convinced the then 19-year-old had the makings of an all-format India player. Tilak carried that promise into his maiden IPL season, standing out as a lone bright spot, with 397 runs in 14 innings at 131, even as Mumbai endured a forgettable campaign.

“What I admire most about Rohit bhai is his discipline on and off the field.

“Being a complete family man shows how grounded he is despite all his achievements. I’d love to follow that example,” Tilak said.

He also credited his parents. “I feel privileged to get the support they’ve given me despite all their hardships. It’s just the beginning, and hopefully, with God’s grace, it will be a wonderful journey.”

Cricket, as ever, will test not just his range but his resolve — whether he can sustain that discipline born of a 60-kilometre commute and a coach’s quiet faith.

The next T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by defending champion India and Sri Lanka, will arrive soon enough. Tilak is ready for the challenge.

Published on Oct 23, 2025