From Broken Bat to BCCI Stardom: The Inspiring Story of Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma’s journey from humble beginnings to Asia Cup hero shows how faith, family, and discipline shaped one of India’s brightest young stars.

Tilak Varma (Image Source: Google)

The attention and recognition Tilak Varma received after the Asia Cup final against Pakistan is remarkable. His cricket story isn't just about runs and records; it reveals the true fighting spirit, it showcases a young cricketer with strength rooted in family, faith, and unwavering discipline. He crafted a match-winning 69 off 53 balls against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and a hero was born.

A look at his journey:

1.During his growing-up years, his father, Namboori Nagaraju, an electrician, was short of resources to send him for private coaching. There was no money to buy a good bat. Even then, father purchased him his first bat (SS) for a then-princely sum of INR 5999. It broke very soon. Once, BCCI recognized him at the Naman Awards for being the highest run-getter in the 2016-17 season of Under-16, this opened the gate for sponsorship and incidentally Sareen Sports Industries (SS) were among the first and this started supply of fresh bats.

2.During the initial period of scarcity, Salam Bayash, his first coach, took care of his fees and equipment needs. He ensured his cricket training at the academy, welcomed him to stay with his family.

3.Made his first-class debut first (For Hyderabad in 2018-19) and played in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa (2020) later. Record: 6 matches, scoring 86 runs in three innings.

4.T20I debut: Against West Indies at Tarouba in 2023, and his first two scoring shots, off the second and third balls he faced, were 6s.

Became the first batter from Hyderabad, after VVS Laxman to play for the country. Laxman retired in 2012 and Mohammed Siraj has been the lone representative from the city. Captain Hardik Pandya presented him with the cap.

5.He has tattoos of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and the sacred chant ‘Om Namah Shivay.’ He has tattoos of his parents also on his body. In October 2023, after hitting a quickfire fifty (two fours and six sixes in his unbeaten 26-ball 55) against Bangladesh in the Asian Games in China, he celebrated by lifting his jersey to reveal tattoos of his parents.

6. IPL career started with Mumbai Indians at Rs 1.70 core contract.

2022: 14 innings, 397 runs, 131+ SR (MI's 2nd highest run scorer).

2023: 11 innings, 343 runs, 164+ SR.

2024: 13 innings, 416 runs, 149+ SR (MI's 2nd highest run scorer, just one run behind Rohit Sharma).

MI retained him for Rs. 8 crores whereas he could have easily fetched more in the auction.

2025: 13 innings, 343 runs, 138+ SR

7. Sored two Consecutive hundred in T20I in South Africa.

8. This year, Tilak Varma became the fourth player to retire out in the IPL. He was asked to return with seven balls left in the match (needing 24 runs with five wickets in hand) against Lucknow Super Giants (after scoring 25 off 23 balls as Impact Sub) in a chase of 204 runs.

9. Made his ODI debut before Varun Chakaravarthy although there is a gap of more than 11 years between their ages, providing another example of big age gaps where the younger player made his ODI debut before the older player. World record: 22 years between Norman Gifford and Neil Foster.

10. Some outstanding T20 International records:

* He holds the world record for the most runs scored between two dismissals with 336 runs (107*, 120*, 19*, 72*, 18). He is followed by Mark Chapman (271), Aaron Finch (240), Shreyas Iyer (240), and David Warner (239).

*Youngest Indian to score overseas 100 in T20I at 22yr 5d.