The current sensation of T20I vs England is a truly promising Indian Cricketer going by the name Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma hails from Hyderabad, India. He has showcased his capabilities as a left-handed batsman and right-arm spin-off bowler in recent years.
Born on November 8, 2002, into a humble Telugu family, Tilak’s passion for cricket was evident in his early childhood. Salam Bayash mentored him and encouraged him to advance his career in cricket.
Tilak Verma debuted in all three formats of cricket between 2018 to 2019, where he made his first-class (List A) cricket debut at the Ranji Trophy on 30th December 2018, for the Hyderabad team and his international cricket debut in the T20 Match on the 3rd August 2023, against the West Indies, from the Indian team.
Tilak Varma Stats at a Glance
Here are some of the facts about the upcoming cricketer Tilak Varma.
| Parameters | Details |
| Full Name | Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma |
| Age | 23 Years (As of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Hyderabad |
| Father’s Name | Namboori Nagaraju |
| Mother’s Name | Gayatri Devi |
| Body measurements (approx). | Height – 180 CM (5’11 Inches) & Weight – 70 Kgs (154 lbs) approx. |
| International Debut | 3 August 2023 (Against West Indies) in T20 Match |
| Jersey Number | 72 |
| Coach/Mentor | Childhood mentor – Salam Bayash |
| ODI Debut | 15th September 2023 (Against Bangladesh) |
| Batting/Bowling | Left-handed Batting / Right arm Off, Spin Bowler |
| Bat | Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat-SH. |
| Best Record | 315 runs in four consecutive innings at T20 internationals |
| ICC Rankings | No. 2 in ICC T20I Rankings |
| His Inspiration | Suresh Raina & Rohit Sharma |
| Social Media Profiles (Instagram/Twitter) | @tilakvarma9 / @TilakV9 |
Early Life
Born into a South Indian family, his parents raised Tilak, his father Namboori Nagaraju, an electrician and his mother Gayatri Devi, a dedicated housewife. He had an elder sibling, Traun Verma. He did his primary schooling at Cresent Model English School, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School, Hyderabad. His Secondary schooling was done at Lepakshi junior college Hyderabad.
Growing up, Tilak did not have the best of resources and had a very humble start, but he showed a fascination with cricket at the age of 11. In his early days, he played tennis ball cricket, which coach Salam Bayash soon noticed. It was then that Coach Bayash noticed Tilak’s potential in cricket, and he was taken under his guidance and support.
He sponsored his cricket training and practice at Legala Cricket Academy. Tilak once stated in an interview that his father had to work very hard to provide for his training expenses. His mentor Salam Bayash also helped pay off his training expenses and made sure he had everything he needed to focus on his cricket practice. Tilak had to travel 40 km daily on Bayash’s scooter to the academy before settling nearby.
Domestic Career
In 2015, under the direction of mentor Bayash, Tilak was selected for Hyderabad under-14s, followed by next year tracing his step up in the under-16s team.
In 2018, Tilak donned the Blue Indian Kit and took a major step in his cricket journey, as he made it to the Under 19s with the Ranji Trophy tournament, in Hyderabad.
In 2019, he was selected for the T20 Vijay Hazare Trophy and then was marked as a part of the Indian team for the 2020 Under19 cricket World Cup. He took part in all six games and three innings.
International Career
A breakthrough came in 2023 when Tilak earned a place in the Indian national cricket team for the T20I series against West Indies.
The official premiere on international cricket grounds happened on 6th August 2023 against West Indies at Tarouba. He scored 39 runs on 22 balls and 2 catches at the same time. He also scored his first 50 and made a mark as the second youngest Indian cricketer to score 50 in T20I followed by Rohit Sharma.
In September 2023, Tilak’s ODI debut was made against Bangladesh at Colombe in the 2023 Asia Cup. In 2024, he did not go unnoticed when he scored his first T20I series century at 107 runs on 56 balls against South Africa. In the same series, he struck a second century at 120 runs. He became the second youngest Indian cricketer to strike two centuries sequentially.
IPL (Indian Premier League)
In 2022, when the IPL franchise showed interest in this young cricketer, he was priced at 20 lakhs and auctioned at INR 1.70 Cr by Mumbai Indians and became a key performer.
In his opening season in 2022, He played 14 matches with a run score of 397 runs in his debut season. His performance against Rajasthan has been noticeable with 61 runs and 33 Balls in the second match and became the second highest runs getter for Mumbai Indians.
In the last IPL season of 2024, he scored 416 runs in 13 innings.
His domestic and IPL match statistics, bagged him a calling from the Indian Cricket team for his first international breakthrough against West Indies.
Some Lesser-Known Facts about Tilak Varma
Here are some lesser-known facts about Tilak Verma.
- To date, Tilak has played 4 first-class games, 16 List A games and 15 T20 games.
- Current Rating – 832 Points (Fourth highest in T20I)
- He is the second youngest Indian to score a 50 in T20I at the age of 20 Years.
What does Future Hold for Tilak Varma’s Cricket Career?
Tilak Verma’s young talent and ground-smashing play on fields reflect his resilient persona. The possibilities for Tilak are endless as he is proving to be a significant part of the Indian cricket team. With the benefit of leadership guidance, he can grow and navigate through the international cricket format, making him hone his skills not only as a batter but an overall player.
His performance statistics in the current T20I vs England where is scored 72 runs off 55 balls same as his jersey number to secure a two-wicket victory, remarks his heroics during the match. This showcases the immense talent he harbours in the forthcoming tournaments.
FAQs Related Tilak Varma
- What is Tilak Varma’s full name?
Tilak Varma’s full name is Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma.
- When did Tilak Varma make his first-class debut?
Tilak Varma made his first-class debut for Hyderabad on December 30, 2018, in the Ranji Trophy.
- Which Indian Premier League (IPL) team does Tilak Varma play for?
Tilak Varma plays for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
- What is Tilak Varma’s batting style?
Tilak Varma is a left-handed batsman.
- Has Tilak Varma represented India in any World Cup tournaments?
Yes, Tilak Varma was part of the Indian squad for the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
- What is Tilak Varma’s role in the cricket team?
Tilak Varma is known for his middle-order batting and can also contribute as a right-arm off-spin bowler.
- How did Tilak Varma’s early life influence his cricket career?
Growing up in Hyderabad, Tilak Varma was discovered by coach Salim Bayash while playing tennis ball cricket at the age of 11. Bayash mentored him and played a significant role in his development as a cricketer.
- What are some of Tilak Varma’s notable achievements in domestic cricket?
In his debut IPL season with Mumbai Indians in 2022, Tilak Varma scored 397 runs in 14 matches, making him one of the team’s standout performers.
- What jersey number does Tilak Varma wear?
Tilak Varma wears jersey number 72.
- Who are Tilak Varma’s cricketing inspirations?
Tilak Varma has cited Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma as his cricketing inspirations.
- How did Tilak Varma get selected for IPL?
Mumbai Indians picked Tilak Varma in the 2022 IPL auction for ₹1.70 crore after his strong domestic performances.
- What are Tilak Varma’s best IPL performances?
One of his standout IPL performances includes a 61-run knock off 33 balls in 2022 against Rajasthan Royals.
- Has Tilak Varma won any awards or recognitions?
Tilak Varma has been praised for his T20 performances and was ranked among the top young Indian players in limited-overs cricket.
- Who inspired Tilak Varma to pursue cricket?
Tilak Varma has mentioned that Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma were his inspirations while growing up.
- What challenges did Tilak Varma face in his early career?
From a modest background, financial constraints were a major challenge, but his coach supported his training.
- What role did coach Salam Bayash play in Tilak Varma’s career?
Salam Bayash identified Tilak’s talent early, mentored him, and even helped fund his cricket training.
- What is Tilak Varma’s highest individual score in international cricket?
Tilak Varma scored a century in T20 internationals, making him one of the youngest Indians to achieve this feat.
- What is Tilak Varma’s future in Indian cricket?
With his strong performances in IPL and T20Is, Tilak Varma is expected to be a key player in India’s middle order across formats.
