First Time in T20I Cricket: Tilak Varma Scripts History, Breaks World Record Against England

Indian cricket sensation Tilak Varma etched his name in the history books with a stunning performance during the second T20I against England in Chennai on Saturday. His unbeaten knock of 72 off 55 balls, featuring four boundaries and five towering sixes, not only secured a thrilling victory for India but also set a remarkable world record.

Tilak became the first cricketer in the world, among full-member nations, to score over 300 runs in T20 Internationals without being dismissed. Over the past four innings, he has delivered scores of 107* (against South Africa), 120* (against South Africa), 19*, and 72* (against England), accumulating an extraordinary 318 runs. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by New Zealand's Mark Chapman, who had scored 271 runs between dismissals.

Most Runs Between Two Dismissals in T20Is (Full-Member Teams):

1. Tilak Varma (India) – 318 runs (107*, 120*, 19*, 72*)
2. Mark Chapman (New Zealand) – 271 runs (65*, 16*, 71*, 104*, 15)
3. Aaron Finch (Australia) – 240 runs (68*, 172)
4. Shreyas Iyer (India) – 240 runs (57*, 74*, 73*, 36)
5. David Warner (Australia) – 239 runs (100*, 60*, 57*, 2*, 20)

A Nail-Biting Finish in Chennai

The match reached a tense climax as India required 20 runs from the final 18 balls. Tilak, demonstrating maturity and composure, rotated the strike judiciously to keep the scoreboard moving. Ravi Bishnoi, batting alongside Tilak, contributed crucial boundaries under pressure, narrowing the equation to six runs off the final over.

Tilak sealed the victory with a dazzling drive, guiding India to a two-wicket win with four balls to spare, sparking celebrations in the packed Chennai stadium.

Captain's Praise for Tilak and Bishnoi

India’s skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, lauded Tilak for his stellar performance and praised Bishnoi’s resilience under pressure. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar said:
"Very happy with the way Tilak batted; good to see someone like him taking responsibility. Ravi Bishnoi has been putting in hard work in the nets and wants to contribute with the bat."

This historic performance by Tilak Varma not only underscores his immense potential but also cements his place as a key player for India in T20I cricket.