‘I wasn’t allowed to carry my cricket kit inside the bus..’- Tilak Varma recalls early struggles

India’s young batter, Tilak Varma made headlines with his batting exploits in the Indian T20 League 2022. Turning up for Mumbai- the most successful franchise, Tilak Varma showed his class by making valuable contributions with the bat. He took the team out of trouble on most occasions and helped them reach competitive scores on the board.

Tilak Varma was one of the shining lights for Mumbai in the recently concluded edition of the Indian T20 League. Batting in the middle order, Varma scored 397 runs in 14 matches at an average of over 36 and a strike rate of 131. He has now become a household name in Indian Cricket, however, his journey from playing the age group cricket to reaching the Indian T20 League hasn’t been an easy one.

Recently, the 19-year-old told about all the hardships he had to endure to reach where he is today. Varma revealed that he didn’t have the luxury to dream of becoming a cricketer as a source of regular income coming every month was a necessity. He also added that he wasn’t allowed to carry his huge cricket kit inside the bus but now has enough money to buy his own car.

“[We never had] the luxury to dream outside the traditional career options, because a good job and continuous income were crucial,” said Varma, as quoted by The Week. “I will never forget what I had to leave to get what I have now. I missed all those important family functions, a close sister’s wedding and quality time with my parents.”

“The worst part was that my huge cricket kit was not allowed on the bus and there was always a ruckus whenever I carried one with me. But now, I have more than enough money to buy a car of my own,” said Varma. “I tried very hard to become permanent in the U16 team. I would go to the ground early morning and would stay there till late evening. I did not miss a single day of the state camp. I used to miss out on meals and rest, and was totally frustrated.”

Tilak Varma also revealed that he has given all the money he got from the Indian T20 League to his father and is focused on improving his game and becoming a better cricketer.

“[I am not letting the money] influence my mind. I have given it all to my father and told him to keep me away from it. I know it is too easy to get distracted,” he added.