Tilak Varma is one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket today, known for his fearless left-handed batting and calm temperament under pressure. From a modest background in Hyderabad to becoming a key middle order batter for both Mumbai Indians and the Indian national team, his rise has been rapid and well earned. In this article, we will look at Tilak Varma age, family, education, career, stats and more.
Who is Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma, whose full name is Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma, is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a left-handed batting all-rounder. He represents India in ODI and T20I cricket, Hyderabad in domestic cricket, and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Known for his composure and ability to finish matches under pressure, he has quickly become one of the most trusted names in India’s white ball middle order.
Tilak Varma Age
Tilak Varma was born on 8 November 2002 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, present day Telangana, India. This makes him 23 years old as of 2026, turning 24 in November.
Tilak Varma Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Tilak Varma stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, which is around 180 cm. He has worked hard over the past few years to build a stronger, quicker and more powerful physique, having realised that his earlier, slimmer frame made it harder for him to consistently hit big shots. His disciplined fitness routine, including strength training, has become an important part of his preparation as a modern white ball batter.
Tilak Varma Family and Education
Tilak Varma comes from a modest family background in Hyderabad. His father, Namboori Nagaraju Varma, worked as an electrician, while his mother is Namboori Gayatri Devi. He also has an elder brother. Growing up, his family did not have the resources to send him for private cricket coaching, and it was his first coach, Salam Bayash, who supported him with fees and equipment, ensuring that his talent was not lost due to financial difficulties. After earning his first major IPL contract, one of Tilak’s early priorities was to ensure his family could live in a better home in Hyderabad.
For his education, Tilak studied at Crescent Model English School and later at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School in Hyderabad, before going on to study at Lepakshi Junior College.
Tilak Varma Career
Tilak Varma made his first-class debut for Hyderabad in the 2018-19 season. His performances soon after earned him a place in India’s squad for the 2020 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, where he played all six matches as India reached the final, scoring 86 runs across three innings. His consistent domestic form, including being the second-highest run scorer for Hyderabad in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 215 runs, caught the attention of IPL franchises.
He was bought by Mumbai Indians for 1.70 crore rupees at the 2022 IPL mega auction and played all 14 matches that season, quickly establishing himself in the middle order. Even in 2022, when he was only 19, senior India batter Rohit Sharma predicted that Varma would soon become an all-format player for the country, a prediction that reflected the confidence many in Indian cricket already had in his temperament and technique.
His breakthrough into international cricket came in July 2023, when the BCCI named him in India’s T20I squad for the tour of the West Indies. He made his T20I debut on 3 August 2023, top-scoring for India with 39 runs off 22 balls and taking two catches. In his very next match, he scored his first international half-century, becoming the second youngest Indian to score a fifty in men’s T20I cricket. He went on to make his ODI debut on 15 September 2023 against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup, cementing his place in India’s white ball plans. In November 2024, he struck his first T20I century against South Africa, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve the feat, a performance that marked his transition from a promising young talent to a genuine match winner for India.
At the IPL level, Tilak has been a mainstay of the Mumbai Indians batting line-up, consistently scoring over 340 runs every season and averaging over 40 in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of the tournament. Recognising his growing value, Mumbai Indians retained him for 8 crore rupees for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, nearly a five-fold increase from his earlier salary, and he continues to be considered the backbone of the team’s middle order heading into the 2026 season. He also captained the South Zone side in the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy and was part of the India A team that won the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in 2024. He was also part of India’s title winning squad in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, contributing important runs during the tournament.
Tilak Varma Stats
As of 2026, Tilak Varma’s career statistics across formats are as follows.
ODI cricket
- Matches: 5
- Runs scored: 68
- Batting average: 22.66
- Highest score: 52
- Half-centuries: 1
T20I cricket
- Matches: 49
- Runs scored: 1,390
- Batting average: 44.83
- Highest score: 120 not out
- Centuries/Half-centuries: 2/6
First-class cricket
- Matches: 23
- Runs scored: 1,562
- Batting average: 50.38
- Highest score: 121
- Centuries/Half-centuries: 7/5
List A cricket
- Matches: 47
- Runs scored: 1,867
- Batting average: 46.67
- Highest score: 156 not out
- Centuries/Half-centuries: 6/10
Indian Premier League
- Matches: 68
- Runs scored: 1,858
- Batting average: 35.73
- Highest score: 101 not out
- Centuries/Half-centuries: 1/10
- Fours/Sixes: 143/91
He has scored a notable IPL knock of 101 not out off 45 balls against Gujarat Titans, a performance he repeated against the same opponent in a later season, underlining his ability to take the attack to strong bowling line-ups.
Tilak Varma Girlfriend
As of 2026, Tilak Varma is unmarried and appears to be single. He is known to keep his personal and romantic life completely private, choosing instead to keep his focus firmly on his cricket career. Those close to him describe him as a grounded, family-focused and humble young man, despite his rapidly growing fame.
Tilak Varma Net Worth
Tilak Varma’s net worth is not officially confirmed, but it is largely built through his lucrative IPL contract with Mumbai Indians, where he was retained for 8 crore rupees for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, along with his BCCI central contract fees, match fees, and brand endorsements. Given his rapid rise and consistent performances across formats, his earnings and overall market value are expected to keep growing in the coming years.
Controversy
There is no major, well documented public controversy associated with Tilak Varma. His public profile has been built almost entirely through his cricketing performances and his inspiring journey from a financially modest background to international stardom, rather than through any personal or professional controversy.
Lifestyle
Tilak Varma leads a disciplined, cricket focused lifestyle, having significantly transformed his fitness and physique over the past few years to compete at the top level of the modern game. Outside of cricket, he enjoys listening to Telugu and Hindi songs, watching motivational cricket videos, and spending quality time with his family whenever he gets a break from the sport. He also owns a Siberian Husky, and after his early IPL success, one of his first priorities was ensuring his family could move into a better home in Hyderabad.
Tilak Varma Social Media
Tilak Varma is active on social media platforms like Instagram, where he shares updates from his matches, training sessions and personal life. His social media following has grown rapidly alongside his rise in Indian cricket, with fans closely following his journey from a promising domestic player to a key member of the Indian national team.
Lesser Known Facts
- His first coach, Salam Bayash, personally supported his cricket fees and equipment costs when his family could not afford private coaching.
- He was part of India’s squad that reached the final of the 2020 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.
- In 2022, Rohit Sharma predicted that Varma would soon become an all-format player for India, based on his technique and temperament.
- He became the second youngest Indian to score a T20I half-century, and later one of the youngest to score a T20I century.
- He captained the South Zone side in the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy.
- He owns a Siberian Husky and enjoys listening to Telugu and Hindi music in his free time.
Conclusion
Tilak Varma’s journey from a financially modest household in Hyderabad to becoming one of Indian cricket’s most reliable young batters is a story of talent meeting opportunity through hard work and support from those who believed in him early on. His growing stats across formats, including a strong IPL average and an impressive T20I record, reflect a player who continues to rise steadily rather than fade after early hype. With his central role in both Mumbai Indians and the Indian national team, Tilak Varma looks set to remain one of the most important young players in Indian cricket for years to come.
FAQs
How old is Tilak Varma?
He was born on 8 November 2002, which makes him 23 years old as of 2026.
What is Tilak Varma’s height?
He stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall.
Which IPL team does Tilak Varma play for?
He plays for Mumbai Indians, having joined the franchise at the 2022 IPL mega auction and being retained for 8 crore rupees for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
What is Tilak Varma’s batting average in T20Is?
As of 2026, he has a T20I batting average of 44.83 across 49 matches, with 1,390 runs, including 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries.
Is Tilak Varma married?
No, he is currently unmarried and keeps his personal life private.
Who are Tilak Varma’s parents?
His father is Namboori Nagaraju Varma, who worked as an electrician, and his mother is Namboori Gayatri Devi.
What is Tilak Varma’s highest score in the IPL?
His highest IPL score is 101 not out, a knock he has scored on more than one occasion against Gujarat Titans.
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