IPL 2022: Who is Tilak Varma – Mumbai Indians’ 19-year-old signing?
Tilak Varma smashed a 28-ball fifty in just his second match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai Indians’ chase of 194 at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. He thus became the youngest player to score a half-century for the Mumbai Indians, at 19 years and 145 days.
The Hyderabad batter was eventually cleaned up trying to sweep Ravichandran Ashwin, but not before he had struck three fours and five sixes for his whirlwind 61 runs off 33 balls.
Tilak made his Ranji Trophy debut against Andhra three years ago. He also played for India in the U-19 World Cup in 2020 when the team finished runner-up to Bangladesh, scoring 38 and 48 in two games. The 19-year-old had a stellar 2021-22 domestic season, top-scoring for Hyderabad with 180 runs in five matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was also the side’s most prolific batter in the Ranji Trophy with 216 runs in six innings. The left-hander began his season with a good outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, compiling 215 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 147.26.
He was roped in by the Mumbai Indians for Rs. 1.7 crore at the IPL 2022 auction.
“Definitely, it is a dream to play in the IPL and honestly hoping to play this season,” Tilak told Sportstar after hearing of his IPL contract. I have attended selection trials for most of the franchisees. So, the desire has always been there as IPL is a huge platform to showcase one’s talent,” he said.
