IND vs SA: Tilak Varma continued his impressive rise in international cricket by scripting a new milestone during the first T20I between India and South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday (December 9). The 23-year-old left-hander became the first Indian batter to score 1000 runs in T20 internationals before turning 25, marking a significant moment early in his international journey.
Coming in at No. 4 at the Barabati Stadium, Tilak required just four runs to reach the landmark. He wasted little time, driving Marco Jansen to the boundary in the sixth over to go past the milestone. The shot not only lifted the crowd but also secured his place in India's T20I record books.
Tilak made his debut in August 2023 against the West Indies and has quickly become
a key part of India's T20 setup. Known for his calmness under pressure and strong game against both pace and spin, he has often been trusted with crucial middle-order responsibilities-roles usually reserved for experienced players.
Before Tilak, the record belonged to opener Abhishek Sharma, who reached the milestone earlier in November 2025 at the age of 25. With the Hyderabad batter now surpassing him at 23 years and 31 days, the achievement underlines just how quickly Tilak has adapted to the international stage.
His journey so far reflects consistency, maturity, and a growing ability to shape innings. With two T20 World Cups scheduled in the next few years, India will be hopeful that Tilak's form continues to evolve as he becomes an integral part of their long-term T20 plans.
Tuesday's achievement is more than just a statistic - it signals the emergence of a dependable future star, one who may shape Indian white-ball cricket for years to come.
Varma eventually got out for 26(32) as India were reeling at 80/4 after 12 overs of play at the time of writing this article.
