Tilak Varma flaunts love for Test cricket with century on County Championships debut

Tilak Varma, 22, showcased his red-ball credentials in style, scoring a hundred on his County Championship debut for Hampshire against Essex at Chelmsford on Tuesday, 24 June. Tilak was unbeaten on 98 overnight, having rescued the visiting side from 34 for 2 and taking them to 293 for 4 at stumps.

The Mumbai Indians star walked in facing a hat-trick ball and immediately displayed the temperament required for the long format. Demonstrating patience and poise, he anchored the innings with vital partnerships through the middle order.

Taking 234 deliveries to reach his 98, Tilak showed remarkable composure and concentration in his maiden first-class innings in testing English conditions. He stitched a 62-run stand with opener Fletcha Middleton, who held firm despite early wickets, with Ali Orr (9) and Nick Gubbins (0) falling cheaply.

Reflecting on his love for red-ball cricket, Tilak – widely regarded as one of modern T20's finest talents – said he was eager not to miss the opportunity to represent Hampshire, owned by the Hyderabad-based GMR Group, following the Indian Premier League season.

He revealed that he had been waiting for the past three years to play County cricket but was previously tied up with white-ball commitments post-IPL. Tilak made his T20I and ODI debuts in 2023.

"Being the world No.3 batsman in T20Is, everyone assumes I’m just a good T20 player, but I’ve always said I’m a good Test cricketer too. I love playing the format – playing close to the body, being challenged, especially in English conditions. It was cold this morning, so the ball was moving and turning a bit, surprising most of us," Tilak told Hampshire on Monday.

Tilak and Middleton saw off the early threat of the new ball, led by Sam Cook. As Tilak settled, he began to expand his game, even stepping out to launch a six. He finished with a commanding 100, laced with 11 boundaries and three sixes—a knock that blended grit with flair.

He went on to forge two more crucial partnerships: a 68-run stand with captain Ben Brown and a 133-run partnership with Liam Dawson, who also reached three figures.

Tilak was eventually dismissed on 100 early on Tuesday morning by Simon Harmer, one of the standout performers for Essex with the ball.

Thanks to Tilak's rescue act, Hampshire secured a first-innings lead of over 100, surpassing Essex’s total of 296.

Tilak, who has already played 25 ODIs and 4 T20Is for India, is now making a strong case for inclusion in the Test squad. The Hyderabad-born batter has amassed 1,204 runs in 18 first-class matches at an impressive average of 50.