'Tilak Was Just Watching Suresh Raina's Batting With Awe': When Tilak Varma Met Suresh Raina In 2014 - Salam Bayash

Hyderabad cricket coach Salam Bayash recalled the instance when former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Suresh Raina interacted with Tilak Varma.

During IPL 2014, CSK was scheduled to play a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the HCA Stadium in Uppal. After CSK’s net session, Raina had a five-minute interaction with a 12-year-old Tilak Varma which really impacted the youngster.

Tilak Varma stood transfixed and watched every shot played by Suresh Raina: Salam Bayash

Bayash, who is Tilak’s coach, recollected the memory of his ward’s interaction with CSK’s all-time highest run-scorer in the IPL.

“I had a friend of mine, who was a local manager. I took his help to procure permission to watch the practice and had little Tilak accompany,” Bayash was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

“I distinctly remember a wide-eyed Tilak just watching Suresh Raina’s batting with awe. He stood transfixed and watched every shot played by Raina. Then we clicked pictures with him and I strongly feel that the “special meeting” with Raina was enough for Tilak to decide that he wanted to become a cricketer,” he added. 

Tilak Varma’s desire to defeat CSK in IPL

Tilak scored a brisk half-century against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai Indians’ second match. The youngster scored 61 off 33 balls, including three boundaries and five sixes, at a strike rate of 184.85. The 19-year-old was involved in an alliance of 81 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for the third wicket, however, MI lost the match by 23 runs.

Ahead of IPL 2022, Tilak expressed his wish to help Mumbai Indians beat arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings.

“I think that would be CSK. I have admired MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja for a long time. So doing well and winning a match for MI against them will give me great confidence,” Varma was quoted as saying by Mumbai Indians’ official website.

MI will play their next game against KKR on Wednesday and will clash against CSK on April 26.

Also Read: IPL 2022: My Only Aim Is To Get A House For My Parents With This IPL Money – Tilak Varma