Tilak Varma reveals how he cheated death, opens up on battle with deadly illness ‘rhabdomyolysis’

India star Tilak Varma has made a shocking revelation as he opened up on a serious health issue that nearly cost him his life.

The highly-rated batsman's cricketing journey took a frightening turn in 2022 after he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition caused by severe muscle breakdown.

I haven't opened up about this to anyone - Tilak Varma

The strong desire to become the fittest player in the world nearly led Tilak Varma to a catastrophic situation. In a recent interview, the left-handed batsman opened up on the entire episode, saying that he was diagnosed with the rare condition after he pushed his body beyond limits even on rest days.

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Recalling the episode, Tilak Varma said that he was so focused on his fitness that he used to hit the gym even on his rest days. With no proper rest for the body, he kept edging towards danger until his condition worsened when he was batting for India A against Bangladesh A. Tilak said that his fingers froze, and his gloves had to be cut open before he was admitted to the hospital.

"I haven't opened up about this to anyone. After my first IPL, I had some health problems. I wanted to be fit. These things have not come out. I was diagnosed with something called Rhabdomyolysis, in which muscle breakdowns happen. I had in me that I wanted to be in the Test team, was playing domestic cricket, A series, a camp was going on," said Tilak on the latest Breakfast of Champions episode.

"Even on rest days, I was in the gym. I wanted to be the fittest player in the world and an excellent fielder, so I wasn't quite focusing on recovery. I was taking ice baths, but I was not giving my body the proper time to recover. I was pushing myself even on rest days. So, the muscle was overstrained and it broke down. The nerves became quite hard," he added.

Mumbai Indians were there with me: Tilak Varma

Speaking further, Tilak Varma opened up on the Mumbai Indians' role in his recovery. He stated that the franchise owner, Akash Ambani, immediately called former BCCI secretary Jay Shah upon finding the severity of the issue. Such was the situation that the doctors even struggled to insert an IV line. Tilak also revealed that the timely medical attention saved his life, admitting that a few hours’ delay could have proved fatal.

"Mumbai Indians were there with me, and I was playing the A series in Bangladesh. I pushed myself for a hundred, and my eyes started tearing up. My fingers weren't at all moving. Everything became so hard, it felt like a stone. I had to retire hurt, gloves had to be cut off because fingers weren't moving," said Tilak.

Immediately, I got a call from Akash Ambani - Tilak Varma

"Immediately, I got a call from Akash Ambani. He spoke to the BCCI, which was very helpful. Thanks to Jay Shah, sir. I was immediately admitted to the hospital. The doctors told me that if I had delayed by even a few hours, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Even the IV line needle wasn't going in. The needle was breaking. My condition was very bad in the hospital. My mother was with me," he added.

Tilak fully recovered from the rare condition and is now one of the best batters in the country. He recently starred for India in the Asia Cup. In the final, he scored a match-winning fifty against Pakistan and was adjudged the Player of the Match. He will be seen in action soon when India take on Australia in the five-match T20I series.