I want to make a statement, get recognised that I am an all-format player: Tilak Varma

The left-handed batter, who showed stupendous form in IPL season, has signed up with English county Hampshire this summer and will also be playing four four-day ‘Tests

Hyderabad: N. Tilak Varma, widely believed to be the best hope from Hyderabad to play for India in across all three-formats, has signed up with English county Hampshire this summer and will be playing four four-day ‘Tests’.

“It is a great opportunity for me and I want to express myself with the bat out there in the demanding conditions which are expected to be in England,” the 22-year-old Tilak said in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’.

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“I want to make a statement, get recognised that I am ready to be an all-format player,” he insisted.

“In fact, for some reason or the other I missed out on playing English county cricket before, perhaps, mostly because of our domestic and international schedule clashing with that. So, now this is a huge opportunity and I want to grab it with both hands,” the dashing batter
said.

“I just don’t like to stay away from the game and this county stint presents a great opportunity to be out there in the middle and keep improving,” said Tilak, who played 25 T-20Is scoring two centuries besides four ODIs.

Tilak, who has been one of the star batters for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, said that he thought he would be in the India A team but having missed out and in that context this county experience should be very important when he looked ahead.

“I spoke to Rohit bhai (former India captain Rohit Sharma) and his advice to me was to seize on the huge opportunity with big scores,” Tilak revealed.

“The other thing is that I haven’t played red-ball cricket. Even for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy I couldn’t play all the games because of being on national duty,” he said.

“The primary objective is to be an all-format player and having worked a lot on my batting during the IPL, I hope to convert into consistent performances,” Tilak said.

Reflecting on the 2025 IPL, the Hyderabad captain said that he thought he would be batting at No.3 but the team’s demands meant that he had to bat at different positions. “Yes, my performances could have been better,” he said.

“Yes, I am enjoying the game, my life and the stardom thanks as everyone is now recognising me. Thankful to my fans for their blessings,” Tilak signed off.