Tilak Varma (Image: Bombay Indians) NEW DELHI: In an innings that will be remembered as one of the most explosive in IPL history, Tilak Varma didn’t just score a century – he rewrote the record books and outplayed the entire Gujarat Titans line-up to power Mumbai Indians to an emphatic 99-run victory on Monday.Varma’s unbeaten 101 off just 45 balls was not only his maiden IPL century but also a knock full of stunning numbers. The left-hander equaled Sanath Jayasuriya’s 45-ball hundred in 2008 – the fastest in MI history – and established himself among elite company.
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Mahela Jayawardene on bad bowling, combinations and team issues Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!But what made the shift truly extraordinary was the way it unfolded. Varma crawled to just 17 off his first 20 balls before unleashing a breathtaking onslaught – smashing 84 runs in his next 25 deliveries. The 251-run strike difference between the two phases is the highest ever recorded in an IPL innings.“I wanted to spend time in the middle,” Varma said after the match. “In the first 20 balls, I was just hitting ball after ball. Then I realized the ability I have … it was about reading the situation and supporting my skills.”In nearly 14 overs, Varma didn’t hit a single boundary, managing just 19 run-offs off 22 balls. A massacre ensued. His last 23 balls yielded a staggering 82 runs, including 15 boundaries, as he charged into the GT attack with ruthless precision.Records are falling in a breathtaking arrangementThe final overs turned into a personal highlight. Varma plundered 82 runs in the last six overs – the most by any batsman at this stage of an IPL innings – to surpass Quinton de Kock’s previous record of 80. He also smashed 64 runs in the last four overs, the second highest ever, behind Tim David’s 68 earlier this season.Batting at No.5, Varma became only the fourth player in IPL history to score a century from that position or below, joining Yusuf Pathan, David Miller and Ben Stokes.Perhaps the most amazing stat of all — Varma became the first ever MI batsman to run out an opponent in an IPL match, with GT finishing behind 100 in reply.“The first 100 will always be special… every game is important for us,” said Varma, also crediting his partner Naman Dhir. “The way he played with intent helped build momentum.It was also a long-awaited personal milestone. In his 60th IPL match, Varma finally secured his first Player-of-the-Match award – ending one of the league’s longest waits.
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