Follow UsTilak Varma's stunning effort in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in tricky conditions saw India lift the trophy once again. He has not jut been a consistent performer for India, but he has also played a massive role for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI), for whom he has scored nearly 1,500 runs at a strike rate of 144.41 since making his debut in 2022.
However, the 22-year-old recently narrated a horrific incident right after his first IPL stint, where he was admitted to the hospital right in the middle of an A game. He recalled that the doctor told him that it could have been even worse had he delayed getting to the hospital.
"After my first IPL [season], 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," Tilak said on Breakfast of Champions.
"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."
The batter further revealed that Akash Ambani, the owner of MI, phoned up Jay Shah after discovering how serious it really was.
"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. 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."
Since making his debut for India in 2023, Tilak has played four ODIs and 32 T20Is. He was the Player of the Match in the Asia Cup final for his unbeaten 69. He will next be seen in action in the five-match T20I series against Australia, starting October 29 (Wednesday).