Young cricket sensation Tilak Varma recently opened up about the evolution of his friendship with the celebrated former India captain and Mumbai Indians skipper, Rohit Sharma. In a heartwarming revelation, Varma shared that Rohit’s daughter, Samaira, played an unexpected yet pivotal role in bringing them closer.
During an appearance on ‘Breakfast with Champions’ alongside Gaurav Kapur, the budding batter reminisced about his early days with the Mumbai Indians during the 2022 IPL season. He confessed that his deep admiration for Rohit initially left him too nervous to strike up a conversation.
“It was during the 2022 COVID season, and we were all staying at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai,” Tilak recalled. “I had met everyone else, but I hadn’t seen Rohit yet. I was incredibly excited, having never met him before.”
The eagerly anticipated meeting happened on the third day when Rohit arrived with his family. Tilak recounted, “I went to the breakfast area, grabbed some juice, and strategically sat in a corner just to observe him. I desperately wanted to talk to him, but honestly, I was too scared.”
Overcoming his apprehension, Varma confessed his feelings to a media representative known to be close to the then-MI captain. As fate would have it, this individual relayed Tilak’s sentiments to Rohit, who promptly invited the youngster to his room.
“Rohit bhai asked me to come over, and we ended up spending about an hour and a half together,” Tilak chuckled. “We ordered food and talked extensively. To be completely honest, I wasn’t even absorbing half of what he said – I was simply gazing at him, feeling a mix of nerves and immense happiness.”
From that pivotal day forward, Tilak began joining Rohit for breakfast regularly, fostering a strong connection not only with Rohit but also with his daughter, Samaira. “I enjoy playing with kids, so I started playing with Sammy, and that’s how our bond truly deepened,” he added.
Since that memorable season, Tilak Varma has solidified his position as a crucial part of MI’s middle order. He has accumulated an impressive 1,499 runs in 51 innings, boasting an average of 37.47 and a striking rate of 144.41, including eight half-centuries.
His stellar form was also evident in the recent Asia Cup, where he emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer with 213 runs in six innings, highlighted by a match-winning unbeaten 69 against Pakistan in the final.
Tilak is now set to feature in India’s upcoming T20I series against Australia, commencing on October 29. He aims to build on his exceptional form and the profound confidence he has gained through the invaluable mentorship and trust bestowed upon him by one of India’s modern cricketing greats.