Tilak Varma Biography: Age, Family Background, IPL Journey and Records

Tilak Varma is trending in India during the home T20I series against the West Indies. He scored a fast 44 not out in the second match and a quick 28 in the third, and he took two catches in the field. He is only 23, and he has already become a key part of India’s T20 side. This biography covers his early life, IPL breakthrough, records and current form.

Tilak Varma at a Glance

• Full name: Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma Wikipedia
• Born: 8 November 2002 in the Kukatpally neighbourhood of Hyderabad, into a Telugu family Wikipedia
• Age: 23
• Role: left-handed batter and part-time off-spin bowler Wikipedia
• Teams: India, Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians in the IPL Wikipedia
• T20I jersey number: 72 Wikipedia

Early Life and a Coach Who Believed

Tilak’s family did not have much money. Wisden says that despite financial challenges growing up, his childhood coach paid for his coaching fees and equipment so that his passion would not be held back. He trained at the Legala Cricket Academy in Lingampally, Hyderabad. That support is a big part of his story, and he has often credited it in interviews. wisdenoutlookindia

Hyderabad Debut and the Under-19 World Cup

He debuted in first-class cricket for Hyderabad in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy on 30 December 2018, and in T20 cricket on 28 February 2019. In 2020, he was part of the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, where he played all six matches as India reached the final. His runs there were modest, but the exposure helped. In domestic T20s, he was Hyderabad’s second-highest run scorer in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 215 runs at a strike rate of 147.26. tilak varma +2

IPL Breakthrough with Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians bought him in the February 2022 auction. He made an immediate impact: in his second match he made 61 off 33 balls against Rajasthan. In 2023, he scored 84 off 46 balls against Bangalore in his side’s first match. In 2024, he scored 416 runs in 13 innings. His ability to bat in the middle order, with calm hitting and good running, made him a fixture for the franchise. tilak varma +3

India Debut in 2023

His national call-up came in July 2023. He made his T20I debut on 3 August 2023 against the West Indies. In the second match, he made 51 off 41 balls, his first international fifty, in a game India lost. He became the second-youngest Indian to score a T20I fifty, after Rohit Sharma. He finished as India’s top scorer in the series with 173 runs. He also made his ODI debut in the Asia Cup, receiving his cap from Rohit Sharma against Bangladesh, and was part of the squad that won the 2023 Asia Cup. Tilak Varma +5

The Century Against South Africa

His best moment so far came in November 2024. He scored 107 not out from 56 balls against South Africa, making him the second-youngest player to score a T20I century. In that fourth T20I, he and Sanju Samson became the first pair from full-member nations to score centuries in the same T20I innings, and their stand was the highest for the second wicket. He finished as player of the series with 280 runs. His highest T20I score is now 120 not out. Tilak Varma +3

Records in Domestic Cricket

Tilak holds a domestic record. He scored 151 against Meghalaya in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the highest individual score in the tournament’s history. In 2024, he was selected as captain of India A for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman. epiconWikipedia

2026: World Cup Year

Wikipedia’s honours list shows India as winners of the 2026 tournament in India and Sri Lanka, and notes that he was India’s highest run-scorer in the 2026 Sri Lanka Tri-Nation Series with 275 runs. I could not confirm his exact numbers at the World Cup, so check Cricinfo before you add them. WikipediaWikipedia

Latest News: India vs West Indies T20Is

In the second T20I in Ranchi on 9 October, he scored 44 not out off 18 balls with three fours and three sixes, a strike rate of 244, as India posted 249 for 5. During the innings he completed 5,000 runs in T20 cricket. India still lost, with West Indies chasing 250. cricketworldindia

In the third T20I at Indore on 11 October, he scored 28 off 16 balls with four fours before being run out. One report called the dismissal bizarre, saying West Indies caught him short after a near-boundary save. In the field he took two catches, dismissing Quentin Sampson and Keemo Paul at long-off. India won the match by 14 runs. IND vs WI Cricket Scorecard, 3rd T20I at Indore, October 11, 2026 +2

Career Stats Snapshot

Format	Highest score
ODI	52
T20I	120*
First-class	121
List A	156*

These are top scores from his Wikipedia infobox. Career totals change after every match, so take them from Cricinfo on the day you publish. Wikipedia

What Next for Tilak?

Tilak is already a regular in India’s T20 batting order, and his role is to build the innings and finish it. His next steps are to push for a place in the ODI side and keep his strike rate high in the powerplay-to-middle overs. With India’s squad full of power-hitters like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, he needs consistency to keep his spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Tilak Varma? He is 23, born on 8 November 2002.

Which IPL team does Tilak Varma play for? Mumbai Indians.

What is Tilak Varma’s highest T20I score? 120 not out.

What is Tilak Varma’s shirt number? 72.