The Rise of Tilak Verma – IPL Star and Emerging India Test Prospect

Tilak Verma entered the world on 8 November 2002 in Hyderabad, the son of a BHEL electrician. Growing up in the company’s quarters, he witnessed his father’s desire for both his sons to become doctors. However, Tilak’s passion leaned toward cricket, while his elder brother Tarun excelled in badminton.

At eleven, Tilak’s family sent him to the Salona cricket centre, where seasoned coach Salam Bayash not only refined his technique but also managed his daily commute. This early exposure laid the groundwork for his first‑class and List‑A debut in 2019.

The Mumbai Indians drafted him for the 2022 IPL season, where he compiled 397 runs in 14 matches. He continued his upward trajectory the following year with an additional 343 runs, demonstrating consistency in the high‑pressure T20 environment.

Internationally, Tilak broke into the Indian T20I eleven in August 2023 and made his ODI debut a month later. His most celebrated performance came at the 2025 Asia Cup, scoring a cumulative 213 runs in seven games. In the tournament final versus Pakistan, he delivered a match‑winning unbeaten 69 off just 53 balls, guiding India to a five‑wicket triumph.

Modelled after Indian veteran Suresh Raina, his preferred strokes are the elegant cover drive and the straight drive. His record so far includes five ODIs (68 runs) and 75 T20Is (1,940 runs) with two centuries and eleven half‑centuries. In the IPL, he has featured in 68 matches, maintaining a 35.73 batting average, and reaching 1,858 runs with one hundred and ten fifties, positioning himself as a potential future Test prospect.