IPL 2022: “They too started crying over the call”, Tilak Varma recalls being picked by MI in auction

The 19-year-old sensation was the top scorer for his team against the Rajasthan Royals.

Tilak Varma| BCCI/IPL

The cricketing world will forever be indebted to the Indian Premier League (IPL) as it has given platform to a lot of youngsters to showcase their talent and skills. Many of whom went on to play for their national side.

The IPL's 15th edition is no exception. The cricketing world has already begun to notice a number of young stars after only 11 matches in the league. Tilak Varma, Ayush Badoni, and Lalit Sharma have all developed into key assets for their respective franchises in a very short span of time.

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The 19-year-old Mumbai Indians (MI) sensation Varma played an innings to remember against the Rajasthan Royals at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday (April 2). He was the highest run-scorer for his team (61 off just 33 balls).

Tilak Varma countered the likes of Ashwin, Chahal, Saini brilliantly and brought up his fifty off just 28 balls which gained the appreciation of cricketing fans and experts alike. 

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri praised Varma's attitude, saying that his performances are a "good omen" for MI, despite the fact that the five-time champions ultimately fell short in the pursuit of the target by 23 runs.

This success didn’t come overnight for him. In an interview with Cricbuzz, Varma opened up on how he, his coach, and his family reacted when he was picked by Mumbai Indians at the IPL 2022 auction for INR 1.7 crore.

“The day the IPL auction was going on, I was on a video call with my coach. My coach started tearing up when the bids kept going higher. After I was picked up, I called up my parents. They too started crying over the call. My mother was struggling to get words out,” the right-hander said.

Tilak Varma also spoke about his humble background and how his family struggled to make ends meet.

“Growing up, we've had a lot of financial difficulties. My father with his meager salary had to look after my cricket expenses as well as my elder brother's studies. In the last few years, with some sponsorship and match fees, I could just about take care of my cricketing expenses,” he added.

The young batter stated that one of his ambitions is to buy a luxurious home for his parents.

“We don't own a house as yet. So with whatever I have earned in this IPL, my only aim is to get a house for my parents. This IPL money gives me the luxury to play freely for the rest of my career."

Mumbai Indians will next face Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday (April 6) at the MCA Stadium, Pune.

 

 
 

By Abhishek Ghan - 04 Apr, 2022

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