Tilak Varma Breaks Records with Stunning Maiden T20I Century Against South Africa
India’s young star Tilak Varma set the cricketing world ablaze with his maiden T20I century in the third T20I against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion. At just 22 years and 5 days old, Tilak became the youngest player in T20I history to score a century, achieving an unbeaten 107 off just 56 balls. His innings featured seven massive sixes and eight boundaries, helping India post their highest-ever T20 score against South Africa, finishing at 219-6.
Coming in early at number three after the quick dismissal of Sanju Samson, Tilak showcased his intent right from the start. He quickly settled into his rhythm, finding the boundary off his second delivery and launching his first of seven sixes soon after. His partnership with Abhishek Sharma was instrumental, as the two southpaws built a 107-run stand, with Abhishek scoring a brisk 50 off 25 balls.
Tilak maintained composure through a challenging phase in the middle overs, rebuilding India’s innings with calculated shots. He accelerated again in the death overs, taking 21 runs off Gerald Coetzee’s over, displaying both power and finesse. He reached his century in the 19th over with a graceful punch down the ground, exemplifying his shot-making skill beyond pure power hitting.
In breaking this record, Tilak surpassed Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal to become the youngest T20I centurion. He also became the 12th Indian player to score a century in T20 internationals, and the third Indian centurion of the year, joining Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
Tilak’s remarkable innings, supported by a debut cameo from Ramandeep Singh, pushed India past the 200-run mark, providing a strong foundation to stave off a series loss. His performance not only sets a new milestone in Indian T20 cricket but also reflects the promising future of India’s young talent on the international stage.
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