‘We Ended Up..’ Tilak Varma Opens Up About First Interaction With Rohit Sharma News24 –

Rising Indian batter Tilak Varma recently shared how his friendship with India and Mumbai Indians (MI) star Rohit Sharma grew over the years, with Rohit’s daughter Samaira playing a special role in their bonding. Tilak spoke about the connection during the popular show “Breakfast with Champions” hosted by Gaurav Kapur.

Recalling his first IPL season in 2022, Tilak revealed how nervous he felt meeting Rohit for the first time. “I was in the Taj Hotel in Mumbai during COVID. I waited for two days, but Rohit didn’t come for breakfast. On the third day, he came with his family, and I just sat in a corner, feeling excited but scared to approach him,” Tilak said.

Eventually, Tilak got his chance to talk to the batting legend. A media liaison helped set up the meeting, and Rohit invited Tilak to join him for breakfast. “We ended up talking for about one and a half hours. I wasn’t even listening to half of what he said; I was just looking at him, feeling nervous, happy, and excited all at once,” he recalled.

Since then, Tilak made it a habit to join Rohit during breakfast. “I loved playing with kids, so I spent time with Samaira. That’s how our bond formed,” he added, highlighting how the family connection strengthened his relationship with the MI captain.

Tilak Varma’s Rise in IPL

On the field, Tilak has grown into one of MI’s key middle-order batters. Since 2022, he has scored 1,499 runs in 51 IPL innings, averaging 37.47 with a strike rate of 144.41, including eight fifties.

Asia Cup 2025 Heroics

Tilak also had an impressive showing in the Asia Cup 2025, finishing as India’s second-highest run-scorer and fourth overall with 213 runs in six innings. His standout performance came in the final against Pakistan, where he scored a match-winning 69 to secure the trophy for India.

Looking ahead, fans can catch Tilak in action during the T20I leg of India’s tour of Australia, starting October 29. With his calm temperament and growing experience, Tilak is quickly becoming one of India’s most reliable young batters.