Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Tilak Varma scripts T20 world record with mammoth 151

Hyderabad captain Tilak Varma broke multiple records during a jaw-dropping 151-run knock against Meghalaya in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Saturday.

Tilak became the first batter to record three consecutive T20 centuries while scoring the highest individual T20 total by any Indian batter in Hyderabad’s SMAT opener at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Tilak’s blistering 151 off just 67 balls not only set up a mammoth total of 248/4 for Hyderabad but also broke multiple records. His score is now the highest individual total in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, surpassing Shreyas Iyer’s 147. This knock also made him the first Indian man to score 150 or more in a T20 match, further solidifying his reputation as one of the brightest talents in the game.

Coming in at No. 3, Tilak Varma dismantled the Meghalaya bowling attack with a breathtaking knock of 151 off 67 balls, studded with 14 fours and 10 sixes. Displaying a perfect blend of precision and power, he raced to his half-century in 28 balls and reached his century in 51. His innings propelled Hyderabad to a commanding total of 248/4, one of the highest in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history.

Tilak’s incredible innings follows back-to-back T20I centuries for India earlier this month in Centurion and Johannesburg during the series against South Africa. With three centuries in 10 days across formats, Tilak has become the epitome of consistency in T20 cricket. His feat of scoring consecutive T20I hundreds places him alongside Sanju Samson as the only two Indians to achieve this milestone. Tilak is closing in on the 3,000-run milestone in T20 cricket. The young batter already boasts four centuries in T20s, further highlighting his ability to deliver match-winning performances on big stages.

Tilak’s recent performances have catapulted him to international acclaim, highlighted by his exploits during the South Africa series, where he earned the Player of the Series award and climbed to third place in the ICC T20I Men’s Batting Rankings. Now the highest-rated Indian batter in T20Is, trailing only Australia’s Travis Head and England’s Phil Salt, Tilak’s rising star has also made waves in the IPL, as the Mumbai Indians retained him as one of their five key players ahead of the 2025 auction.