# Tilak Varma
**Tilak Varma** (full name N. Tilak Varma, born 2002) is an Indian cricketer from [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad), Telangana, a left-handed middle-order batsman who bowls right-arm offbreak. He plays for [Mumbai Indians](https://www.edgepedia.org/mumbai-indians) in the [Indian Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-premier-league) and represents India in white-ball internationals, with a T20I career average of 45.2 and a strike rate of 147.23 through 69 matches[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma). He was part of India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2026 and scored the match-defining 69 not out in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan[2](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma) • [3](https://apnews.com/article/1988bf969bd605a5b35db8bd8f436e12).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002, Hyderabad, Telangana[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma) |
| Role | Left-handed batsman, right-arm offbreak; prefers batting at No. 3 but settled into India's middle order[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma) • [4](https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/tilak-varma-reveals-number-three-as-his-favourite-batting-position-opens-up-on-middle-order-transition-5166/?isMobileWebView=true) |
| IPL | Mumbai Indians from 2022, bought for INR 17 million (INR 1.7 crore); 1,858 runs in 68 matches[2](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma) • [5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket) |
| International debuts | T20I on 3 August 2023 vs West Indies; ODI on 15 September 2023 vs Bangladesh[6](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/timeline-the-rise-and-rise-of-our-starboy-tilak-varma) • [1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma) |
| T20I record | 69 matches, 1,808 runs, average 45.2, strike rate 147.23, 2 centuries, 10 fifties[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma) |
| Headline innings | 69 not out off 53 balls in the 2025 Asia Cup final, won by India with two balls to spare[3](https://apnews.com/article/1988bf969bd605a5b35db8bd8f436e12) |
| T20 record | 151 off 67 balls in November 2024, the highest individual T20 score by an Indian male cricketer, part of back-to-back T20I centuries[2](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma) • [7](https://epaper.truepointnews.com/media/2024-11/24th-nov-point-epaper_ap-1.pdf) |
## Early life and coaching
Varma grew up in Balapur, Hyderabad, the son of an electrician, Namboori Nagaraju, in a lower-middle-class household[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms). In 2011, when he was about 11 years old, coach Salam Bayash of the Legala Cricket Academy spotted him playing tennis-ball cricket at a ground near Balapur on Bayash's day off and approached the family to take charge of his training[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms).
The routine was punishing. Bayash picked Varma up each day, riding from Balapur to Chandrayangutta (11 km) and then on to the academy in Lingampalli, another 41 km; the boy trained at the academy from 6 am to about 6:30 pm and sometimes fell asleep on the ride home. To reduce the travel, Bayash eventually persuaded the family to move closer to the academy[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms). Bayash also enrolled Varma in a different school and bore his expenses through his formative years[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket) • [1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma). Varma grew up idolizing [Suresh Raina](https://www.edgepedia.org/suresh-raina), another left-handed Indian middle-order batsman, and met him through his coach[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket).
## Domestic rise
By 2016 Varma was representing Hyderabad at under-14 and under-16 level. He scored 960 runs in the under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy for Hyderabad, which opened the path to a senior debut in the 2019 domestic season[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms). He made India's squad for the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, where India finished runners-up to Bangladesh and Varma made 86 runs in three innings[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms).
His strongest domestic stretch came in 2020/21: an average of 97 with two centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Hyderabad, followed by a batting average of 36 and a strike rate of 147 in the [Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/syed-mushtaq-ali-trophy), including a 50-ball 75 in the quarter-final against Gujarat[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms). Later that season he made 121 for India A against New Zealand A in a four-day match in Bengaluru, and a muscle strain suffered on the India A tour of Bangladesh in December 2022 cost him the entire [Ranji Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranji-trophy) season that followed[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms).
## IPL career
Mumbai Indians bought Varma for INR 17 million (INR 1.7 crore) at the February 2022 mega auction[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket). In his debut season he made 397 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 131.02, standing out for a franchise that finished bottom of the table[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms) • [1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma). His first IPL half century came on April 2, 2022, a 61 off 33 balls against [Rajasthan Royals](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan-royals) that included a reverse-swept six off [Ravichandran Ashwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravichandran-ashwin)[6](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/timeline-the-rise-and-rise-of-our-starboy-tilak-varma) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms). He followed with 347 runs in 2023, in 11 matches at a strike rate of 164.11[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms).
Through IPL 2026 he has accumulated 1,858 runs in 68 matches for the franchise, with a highest score of 101[2](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma) • [1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma). Mumbai Indians retained him for the 2025 season[7](https://epaper.truepointnews.com/media/2024-11/24th-nov-point-epaper_ap-1.pdf), and his franchise biography describes him as one of the team's core players, a middle-order presence who anchors innings in difficult situations[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma).
## International career
A T20I call-up for the [West Indies](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-indies) tour followed his first two IPL seasons. Varma debuted on August 3, 2023 at Tarouba, Trinidad[6](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/timeline-the-rise-and-rise-of-our-starboy-tilak-varma), and made an early impact with 83 off 44 balls in the third T20I of that series[9](https://opinionexpress.in/epaper-upload/DEL_ENG_EPAPER-10-8-2023.pdf). His ODI debut came on September 15, 2023 against Bangladesh; across five ODIs he has scored 68 runs[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma).
His breakout international stretch came in November 2024, when he scored back-to-back T20I centuries against South Africa, including an unbeaten 151 off 67 balls that set the record for the highest individual T20 score by an Indian male cricketer, surpassing [Shreyas Iyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/shreyas-iyer)'s 147[2](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma) • [7](https://epaper.truepointnews.com/media/2024-11/24th-nov-point-epaper_ap-1.pdf).
**The 2025 Asia Cup.** In the final against Pakistan in Dubai on September 28, 2025, Varma came in with India at 36 for 3 in the powerplay and rebuilt the innings with [Sanju Samson](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanju-samson) before accelerating to 69 not out off 53 balls, hitting a crucial six off [Haris Rauf](https://www.edgepedia.org/haris-rauf) in the 20th over as India won by five wickets with two balls remaining. It was India's ninth [Asia Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/asia-cup) title and second in the T20 format[3](https://apnews.com/article/1988bf969bd605a5b35db8bd8f436e12). He was named player of the match; the post-match presentation was upstaged when India refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi[10](https://apnews.com/article/b49110b81e1e589ac423fa916bfe7442).
Varma recovered from surgery ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, returned with 38 off 24 balls in a warm-up against the USA, and was part of the Indian squad that won the tournament[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5IFfXtPNe4) • [2](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma).
## Batting position and role
Varma has stated repeatedly that No. 3 is his preferred batting position, but India's settled top order has pushed him down to a middle-order role, often around No. 5 or [No. 6](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-6), where his job is to navigate the middle overs, rebuild after wickets, and take the game deep[4](https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/tilak-varma-reveals-number-three-as-his-favourite-batting-position-opens-up-on-middle-order-transition-5166/?isMobileWebView=true) • [12](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/tilak-varma-middle-order-king-india-t20i-batting-position-10920165/). He has described his fluctuating strike rate as a consequence of changing roles, prioritizing the team's situation over personal scoring[13](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/tilak-varma-strike-rate-criticism-first-ball-hit-india-10797025/). As a left-hander in a largely right-handed lineup he is also valued for disrupting opposing bowling plans, particularly against spin[14](https://www.wisden.com/series/india-in-west-indies-and-united-states-2023/cricket-news/tilak-varma-might-just-be-the-x-factor-india-need-at-the-world-cup). Commentary has noted his struggles to rotate strike against tight spin fields in the middle overs as the main technical criticism of his game[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/tilak-varmas-deficiencies-against-spin-make-him-a-misfit-at-no-5-10770132/).
He served as vice-captain for the India versus West Indies T20I series that began on October 6, 2026 in Lucknow[4](https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/tilak-varma-reveals-number-three-as-his-favourite-batting-position-opens-up-on-middle-order-transition-5166/?isMobileWebView=true).
## Hyderabad captaincy and other teams
Varma has featured in all formats of domestic cricket for Hyderabad and captained the state to the 2024 Ranji Trophy Plate division title[5](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket) • [16](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/70761-tilak-varma-profile). His listed teams also include India U19, India A, South Zone, Hampshire, and Medak Falcons[1](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma).
## References
1. [Tilak Varma profile, Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/14504/tilak-varma)
2. [Tilak Varma (Mumbai Indians), IPL official player page](https://www.ipl.com/player/tilak-varma)
3. [India beats Pakistan with only 2 balls left to win cricket's Asia Cup but refuses to receive trophy, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/1988bf969bd605a5b35db8bd8f436e12)
4. [Tilak Varma reveals number three as his favourite batting position, Crictracker](https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/tilak-varma-reveals-number-three-as-his-favourite-batting-position-opens-up-on-middle-order-transition-5166/?isMobileWebView=true)
5. [Talent, Perseverance and Humility: Tilak Varma's inspiring journey in cricket, Mumbai Indians](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/talent-perseverance-and-humility-tilak-varmas-inspiring-journey-in-cricket)
6. [Timeline: The rise and rise of our StarBoy, Tilak Varma, Mumbai Indians](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/timeline-the-rise-and-rise-of-our-starboy-tilak-varma)
7. [Tilak Varma sets T20 record with third consecutive century, True Point News epaper](https://epaper.truepointnews.com/media/2024-11/24th-nov-point-epaper_ap-1.pdf)
8. [The making of Tilak Varma: From tennis-ball cricket to playing for Mumbai Indians, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/the-making-of-tilak-varma-from-tennis-ball-cricket-to-playing-for-mumbai-indians-earning-india-call-up/amp_articleshow/101657304.cms)
9. [Opinion Express epaper, 10 August 2023](https://opinionexpress.in/epaper-upload/DEL_ENG_EPAPER-10-8-2023.pdf)
10. [India's Asia Cup win over Pakistan marred by trophy presentation snub, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/b49110b81e1e589ac423fa916bfe7442)
11. [Tilak Varma shines on cricket comeback as India A beat USA in T20 WC warm-up, Sports Today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5IFfXtPNe4)
12. [Tilak Varma: The No 3 prince who became a No 6 king, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/tilak-varma-middle-order-king-india-t20i-batting-position-10920165/)
13. [Tilak Varma on strike rate criticism, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/tilak-varma-strike-rate-criticism-first-ball-hit-india-10797025/)
14. [Tilak Varma might just be the 'X-factor' India need at the World Cup, Wisden](https://www.wisden.com/series/india-in-west-indies-and-united-states-2023/cricket-news/tilak-varma-might-just-be-the-x-factor-india-need-at-the-world-cup)
15. [Tilak Varma's deficiencies against spin make him a misfit at No 5, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/tilak-varmas-deficiencies-against-spin-make-him-a-misfit-at-no-5-10770132/)
16. [Tilak Varma profile, Mumbai Indians](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/70761-tilak-varma-profile)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket people and teams › People › Men's international cricketers › Indian men's cricketers › Indian cricketers of the 2000s and 2010s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license