Tilak Varma<\/strong> became the second youngest Indian male cricketer to score a T20I century, following Yashasvi Jaiswal<\/strong>\u2019s milestone in the Asian Games 2023. Varma\u2019s century came in a thrilling encounter against South Africa in the third T20I<\/strong> <\/a>at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on Wednesday (November 14). The left-hander reached his hundred in 51 balls at the age of 22 years and five days, compared to Jaiswal, who scored his century at 21 years and 279 days.<\/p>\n Batting at No. 3 after Sanju Samson<\/strong>\u2019s dismissal in the first over, Varma initially took a cautious approach to settle in. However, as the innings progressed, he switched gears, launching an aggressive attack on South Africa\u2019s bowlers. After scoring 33 and 20 in the previous two games, Varma seized this opportunity to showcase his batting prowess after Samson\u2019s early dismissal for a duck.<\/p>\n Tilak first built a solid 107-run partnership for the second wicket, which set a strong foundation for India\u2019s innings. Later, he partnered with Rinku Singh<\/strong><\/a> for a rapid 58-run stand off just 30 balls for the fifth wicket, with Varma contributing 45 runs off 17 balls in this partnership. His powerful hitting pushed India closer to the 200-run mark, helping build a competitive total.<\/p>\n Finishing unbeaten on 107 off 56 balls, Varma\u2019s innings was packed with eight fours and seven sixes, driving India to a total of 219\/6 in 20 overs. India eventually secured victory by 11 runs, with Varma\u2019s performance being the centerpiece of this memorable win.<\/p>\n 1. Early Life and Family Background<\/strong><\/p>\n Tilak, born Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma on November 8, 2002, in Hyderabad, Telangana, grew up in a family facing financial difficulties. His father, Namboori Nagaraju<\/strong>, worked as an electrician, while his mother, Gayatri Devi<\/strong>, managed the household. Despite limited resources, Tilak\u2019s family supported his cricket aspirations from a young age. Tilak is an avid animal lover and owns a pet dog named Trigger. He is also known to have a deep faith in Lord Ganesha, often paying homage to the deity and seeking blessings before matches.<\/p>\n 2. Education, cricket training and idol<\/strong><\/p>\n Tilak\u2019s education began at Crescent Model English School and later continued at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan\u2019s Public School in Hyderabad. He completed his secondary education at Lepakshi Junior College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration from Andhra University. Noticing his talent and passion for the game, coach Salim Bayash<\/strong> took Tilak under his wing at age 10, training him at the Legala Sports Academy. Bayash\u2019s mentorship and dedication, even traveling over 40 kilometers each day, were pivotal in shaping Tilak\u2019s early cricketing skills.<\/p>\n His journey in cricket began formally when he joined the Legala Cricket Academy in Lingampally, where Bayash trained him intensively. This close bond with his coach, coupled with early exposure to competitive cricket, set a strong foundation for Tilak\u2019s career. Tilak credits Suresh Raina<\/strong> as his cricketing idol, inspired by Raina\u2019s aggressive playing style and consistency.<\/p>\n 3. Domestic Career with Hyderabad<\/strong><\/p>\n Tilak made his first-class debut for Hyderabad in the 2018\u201319 Ranji Trophy on December 30, 2018, showcasing his promise as a middle-order batter. During the season, he scored 215 runs with an impressive strike rate of 147.26 in seven matches, which led to his selection for Hyderabad\u2019s List A team. In his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on September 28, 2019, he scored 180 runs and took four wickets over five matches. His all-around performance soon garnered attention, resulting in his inclusion in India\u2019s Under-19 squad for the 2020 ICC Cricket World Cup.<\/p>\nMatch-winning knock for India by Tilak Varma: 107 not out in 56 balls<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Also READ: SA vs IND: Tilak Varma credits Team India\u2019s star player for his spectacular century in 3rd T20I<\/a><\/h3>\n
Interesting facts about Tilak Varma\u2019s career<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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