Tilak Varma
Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a left-handed batsman and part-time off-spin bowler. He plays domestic cricket for Hyderabad and his Indian Premier League (IPL) team is Mumbai Indians. Tilak has established himself as one of India’s most promising middle-order batsmen because of his power hitting and his ability to maintain calmness during stressful situations.
Early Life
Tilak Varma was born in 8 November 2002 Kukatpally area of Hyderabad, Telangana, into a Telugu family. Tilak developed an interest in cricket at an early age and was spotted by coach Salam Bayash when he was just 11 years old. Bayash mentored him at the Legala Cricket Academy in Lingampally, even helping with travel arrangements for long distances until the family relocated closer to the academy.
Education
Tilak completed his schooling at Crescent Model English School and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. His next school after that was Lepakshi Junior College which is located in Hyderabad.
Career
Suryakumar Yadav is known for his aggressive batting and his ability to create innovative shots. He has developed a successful career which includes his achievements in domestic cricket, international competitions, and Indian Premier League matches.
Domestic Career
Suryakumar Yadav began playing cricket when he joined Mumbai for his first domestic cricket experience. He established himself as a reliable player during his time in the Ranji Trophy. He maintained a consistent scoring record while demonstrating his ability to play aggressively. His performances made him one of the top players in India’s domestic circuit.
International Career
Yadav made his international debut for India in 2021. He quickly became an important player in T20 Internationals. He achieved third-highest run-scoring status for India during the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup when he scored 239 runs across six innings. He achieved his first T20 World Cup half-century against the Netherlands. He scored 111 runs without losing his wicket in 51 balls against New Zealand in November 2022. He received the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award in 2022 and 2023 because of his strong performances. He achieved a fast century in 45 balls against Sri Lanka in 2023 and gained 910 ICC rating points which represent one of the highest ratings in T20I cricket. He made his initial Test appearance against Australia. He played a key role in India's T20 World Cup victory when he made a critical catch during the final match against South Africa. In 2026, he led India to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as captain.
IPL Career
Suryakumar Yadav started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2012. He played for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2017 and won the IPL championship with them in 2014. He became a key player for the Mumbai Indians when he returned to the team in 2018. He played an important role in their title wins in 2019 and 2020. He achieved his best IPL performance in the 2023 season when he scored 605 runs.
Work and Contributions
Suryakumar Yadav is known for changing T20 batting with his innovative shots. His ability to hit the ball to all areas of the field makes him a challenging opponent for bowlers.
He has dedicated his time to help others through his social work activities. He showed his support for the country by donating his complete Asia Cup match fees to the Indian Army and victims of a terrorist attack which he made in 2025.
Awards and Recognition
Gold Medal – Asian Games 2023 (Men’s T20 Cricket) Player of the Match – Asia Cup 2025 Final Captain – India ‘A’ (ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024) Captain – South Zone (Duleep Trophy 2025–26) Personal Life Tilak Varma comes from a humble background and shares a close bond with his family. His journey from playing tennis-ball cricket to representing India internationally reflects his determination and hard work.