Indian cricket sensation Tilak Varma created history during the second T20I against England at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. His unbeaten 72 off 55 balls with four fours and five towering sixes not only led India to a thrilling two-wicket win but also etched his name in the record books.
Tilak became the first cricketer in the world to score more than 300 runs without getting out in T20 Internationals, surpassing New Zealand’s Mark Chapman who previously held the record with 271 runs. The 22-year-old’s recent streak includes unbeaten scores of 107, 120, 19 and now 72, taking his tally to 318 runs in four consecutive innings.
Historical achievement of Tilak Varma
The left-handed batsman’s feat has taken him to the top of the list of most T20 runs between dismissals among Full Member teams. The top five rankings now stand as follows:
- Tilak Varma (India) – 318 runs (107*, 120*, 19*, 72*)
- Mark Chapman (New Zealand) – 271 runs (65*, 16*, 71*, 104*, 15)
- Aaron Finch (Australia) – 240 runs (68*, 172)
- Shreyas Iyer (India) – 240 runs (57*, 74*, 73*, 36)
- David Warner (Australia) – 239 runs (100*, 60*, 57*, 2*, 20)
Tilak also surpassed former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s record of 258 runs in four consecutive T20I innings, cementing his place as one of India’s brightest young talents in cricket.
The Match Summary
Chasing a target of 166, India suffered early setbacks with key batsmen failing to make significant contributions. Tilak stepped in at No. 3 and showed remarkable composure under pressure. Despite losing partners at the other end, he kept the scoreboard ticking with big hits and clever strike rotation.
With India needing 20 runs off 18 balls and two wickets in hand, Tilak showed steely resolve. A crucial cameo from Ravi Bishnoi (9*) helped ease the pressure, but it was Tilak’s brilliant drive that saw India win with four balls to spare.
England bowlers, especially Brydon Carse (3/29) and Adil Rashid (1/14), performed superbly but they could not stop India from taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Consistent Excellence from Tilak
Tilak Verma’s recent performances underline his consistency and growth as a T20I batsman. Since returning from injury in late 2024, he has scored 371 runs in six innings at an average of 185.5, including two centuries and a half-century.
In his overall T20I career, Tilak has played 22 matches, scoring 707 runs at an impressive average of 58.91 and a strike rate of 156.07. With two centuries and three fifties already to his name, his contribution to India’s success is undeniable.
Team India’s Spin Dominance
Early in the match, the Indian bowlers exploited England’s weakness against spin. Skipper Jos Buttler provided a solid start with 45 off 30 balls, but England’s middle order crumbled in the face of Axar Patel (2/32) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/38). England posted a defendable total of 165/9 thanks to brilliant knocks from Brydon Carse (31 off 17 balls) and Jamie Smith (22 off 12 balls).
However, Tilak’s masterclass ensured that England’s efforts went in vain, as India moved one step closer to sealing the series.
Looking Ahead
In the third T20I in Rajkot, India will be looking to secure the series and continue their undefeated campaign under their new leadership. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma’s excellent form is catching people’s attention, and fans are expecting another stellar performance from this rising star.
