**Tilak Varma’s Five Revealing Statements from ‘Breakfast with Champions’ Amid India’s AUS vs IND 2025 Series**
Team India star Tilak Varma played a pivotal role in India’s recent Asia Cup 2025 triumph. He struck a brilliant, unbeaten half-century in the final against Pakistan, guiding India to a memorable victory. The left-hander has been impressive in his short international career since making his ODI and T20I debuts in 2023. To date, Tilak has played four ODIs and 32 T20Is, scoring 962 runs in the shorter format, including two centuries and four half-centuries.
Tilak Varma has been named in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series in Australia, while the team is currently engaged in the ongoing ODI series. The 22-year-old recently appeared on an episode of *Breakfast with Champions*, where he opened up on various topics — from the Asia Cup and his first meeting with Rohit Sharma to his experiences playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Here are five interesting statements Tilak Varma made during his recent chat show appearance amid the AUS vs IND 2025 series:
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### #5 On Asia Cup 2025 Trophy Controversy
In the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan, Tilak Varma scored an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls under immense pressure. India chased down a modest target of 147 after a shaky start of 20/3. Tilak was awarded *Player of the Match* for his heroics.
However, the Men in Blue faced disappointment as they did not receive the trophy on the ground even after a long wait. Eventually, they resorted to a mock celebration, pretending to hold the trophy.
Opening up on the controversy, Tilak said:
> “We were actually waiting for an hour on the ground. I was lying on the ground, Arshdeep was doing his work, making reels as usual. We were all waiting thinking now the trophy will come. But even after an hour it did not. We kept looking around but it was not there. Then Arshdeep told let us celebrate how we did during the T20 World Cup and do the same here. Then we all thought okay and then we started it.”
Tilak finished the tournament with 213 runs from six games at an average of 71 and a strike rate of 131.48.
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### #4 On IPL 2022 Auction and Being Picked by Mumbai Indians (MI)
Tilak Varma made his IPL debut in 2022, when Mumbai Indians (MI) acquired him for ₹1.7 crore during the auction. He revealed that the auction happened while he was playing Ranji Trophy matches in Cuttack.
He also shared how he strained himself and got injured after the 2022 season:
> “We were playing the Ranji Trophy in Cuttack. Everyone came to my room once the auction started. Everyone started screaming when the bid started. When CSK and MI came in, when it went to 1.2 Cr, the TV started to hang and in ten seconds it had gone to 1.7. It then showed that MI bought me. I had a muscle breakdown after the first IPL and no one knows this. I wanted to get into the Test team and I was continuously playing domestic matches. I did not focus on recovery. I would push myself and overstrained,” he said.
Tilak Varma has been with MI since his debut. So far, he has played 54 IPL matches, scoring 1499 runs with eight half-centuries.
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### #3 On Playing at the Wankhede and Craze for MS Dhoni
Tilak also expressed his experience of playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, MI’s home ground. He spoke about playing against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) there and the massive fan craze for MS Dhoni in Mumbai.
> “Playing at Wankhede is a different feeling. The atmosphere, the crowd, there is a lot of fun. I even won the game against CSK there. But I see that when Mahi bhai comes, people remove their blue jerseys and the yellow shirt comes on. I thought this was amazing. Once he gets out, the blue shirts come on again,” he said.
This venue also holds historic significance as the place where MS Dhoni guided India to victory in the 2011 World Cup final.
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### #2 On His First Interaction with Rohit Sharma
After being acquired by MI, Tilak revealed his excitement to meet veteran Rohit Sharma, who was the captain at the time. He spoke about patiently waiting two days before finally getting a chance to interact with Rohit.
> “It was in 2022 during COVID. We were in Taj Hotel in Mumbai. I was waiting. Rohit did not come the first two days. I met everyone but could not see him and I was waiting. I was very excited to see him as I had never met him before. He came on the third day. He was with his family. I went to the breakfast area, took some juice and just sat at one corner to see him. I wanted to go talk to him but I was scared. I was nervous so I did not go to him,” he said.
> “I went to a media guy and told him. I did not know that guy was close to Rohit. So he went and told him. Then Rohit called to my room and asked me to meet him. Then I sat with him and spoke a lot,” he added.
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### #1 On Being Hospitalized During India A’s Tour of Bangladesh
Tilak made a shocking revelation about a time he was hospitalized during an India A game in Bangladesh. He described how serious his condition was, forcing him to retire hurt immediately.
> “I was playing an India A game in Bangladesh. After a point my eyes became watery, I was not even able to lift the bat and all my nerves were hard. I retired hurt and came out. Akash Ambani called me right away. He spoke to the BCCI and they helped me a lot. At the hospital they told me it could have gotten worse if I had come even a few hours late. It was that bad. Even the needle was not going in. I just wanted to come out alive,” he stated.
Luckily, Tilak managed to recover fully and has since become an integral part of Mumbai Indians and the Indian T20I team.
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**About the Author**
*Rishabh Vm* is an Indian sports writer at Sportskeeda, covering Kabaddi, Hockey, Indian football, and Olympic sports. With around 3 years of experience, Rishabh has previously worked with My Khel and interned at The News Minute, Times Network, and Deccan Herald. He holds an MA in Media and Communication Studies and has contributed in Sportskeeda’s Communications team, winning the ‘Commentator of the Month’ award twice.
Rishabh began following sports avidly after the 2020 Olympics and his experience watching Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League, with his favorite athlete being Neeraj Chopra, whose gold medal win at the 2020 Olympics left a lasting impact on him. Outside of writing, Rishabh enjoys playing badminton and football.
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*Edited by Rishabh Vm.*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/5-interesting-statements-made-tilak-varma-recent-chat-show-appearance-amid-aus-vs-ind-2025-series
