Tilak Varma is a big-match player, knock vs Pakistan was unbelievable: Rohit Sharma

Tilak Varma has firmly established himself as a big-match player, delivering consistent performances for Mumbai Indians and India, including a match-winning 69* in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan.

Rohit Sharma said Tilak Varma has firmly established himself as a big-match player over the past few years. Since joining the Mumbai Indians in the 2022 IPL auction, Varma has shown remarkable growth and maturity. He made an immediate impact in his debut season, scoring 397 runs at 36.09 with a strike rate of 131.02, including a quick 61 off 33 balls.

In 2023, he scored 343 runs at 42.88 with a strike rate above 164, highlighted by an unbeaten 84 against RCB. In 2024, he maintained consistency with 416 runs at 41.60, cementing his role as a dependable top-order batter.

Tilak has also played 40 T20Is for India and is part of the national squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Rohit praised his maturity and willingness to take responsibility in crucial moments.

“The first time Tilak Varma came into our Mumbai Indians setup, I could sense that there was something different about him. What attracted me was his constant conversation that came from a very innocent place, but it made a lot of sense,” Rohit said while speaking to Jatin Sapru on JioHotstar’s 'Captain Rohit Sharma’s Roadmap for T20 World Cup'.

“Whenever he spoke to me, he would just say, ‘I’ll do it. Please send me up the order, I’ll do the job.’ I’m talking about the 2022 and 2023 seasons, when I was captain,” Rohit said.

Rohit also lauded Tilak for his match-winning performance in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai. Tilak scored an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, including three fours and four sixes, to guide India to a five-wicket victory while chasing 147 at the Dubai International Stadium.