Tilak Varma scores hundred against Meghalaya in SMAT 2024-25 opener; third in a row in T20s 

Emerging left-handed batter Tilak Varma recorded a third straight ton in the shortest format of the game. Fresh after a career-defining series in South Africa, the 22-year-old made the most of the momentum while playing for Hyderabad against Meghalaya in the opening match of the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Group A match is underway at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Saturday, November 23.

He batted at No. 3 while leading the side and walked in the first over after Akash Choudhary dismissed Rahul Singh. The left-handed batter stitched a 122-run partnership with Tanmay Agarwal as Hyderabad scored 123 runs in the first half of the innings.

Varma became the first batter to record three consecutive T20 hundreds as he scored 151 runs off just 67 deliveries. His knock included 14 fours and 10 sixes to help Hyderabad amass a mammoth total of 248 runs to kick-start their campaign. This also marks the highest-ever individual score recorded in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Hyderabad have been drawn alongside the likes of Meghalaya, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Bihar, and defending champions Punjab.

Tilak Varma rises to No. 3 in ICC rankings for T20I batters

His exploits in Team India's recent 3-1 series win over South Africa, which included two consecutive tons, saw him skyrocket in the ICC rankings for T20I batters. He jumped up 69 places in the latest update to hold the No. 3 rank, placed only below Travis Head and Phil Salt.

Varma is now the highest-ranked Indian batter in T20I cricket, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav dropping down to the fourth spot after a lean campaign in South Africa.

The youngster, who was recently retained by the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega-auction, has made a serious case to be Team India's long-term No. 3 in T20Is following Virat Kohli's retirement from the format.

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