Tilak Varma of India (Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images) Tilak Varma, who played a key role in India’s 2025 Asia Cup triumph, revealed for the first time that he was facing a serious health setback in 2022. The 22-year-old left-handed batsman revealed that he has been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that occurs when muscles break down rapidly. Tilak expressed his gratitude to the Mumbai Indians management and franchise owner Akash Ambani for providing top-notch medical support during the crisis. Tilak has been an important member of the Mumbai Indians team for the past few years and was retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. His performances at the tournament played a significant role in him earning a call-up to the national team. Speaking on the latest episode of Breakfast of Champions, Tilak said, “I didn’t share it with anyone before. After my first IPL season, I had some health problems. I wanted to stay fit. I was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which leads to muscle breakdown. At that time, I was focused on getting into the Test team and playing domestic cricket and the A series.” He explained that he often overtrained and didn’t give his body enough time to recover. “Even on my rest days, I was in the gym. I wanted to be the fittest player and the best player in the field. I was taking ice baths, but I was neglecting proper recovery. The muscle was overworked and eventually broke down. My nerves were extremely stiff,” he added. Tilak also recounted a terrifying moment during the Bangladesh A series. “I was pushing for a hundred but all of a sudden my eyes started watering and my fingers stopped working. Everything felt like stone. I had to retire and they had to cut my gloves off because my fingers wouldn’t move,” he said. He praised Akash Ambani for immediately contacting BCCI secretary Jay Shah after learning about the severity of his condition. “Thanks to Mumbai Indians and Jay Shah. I was immediately admitted to the hospital. The doctors said even a few hours’ delay could have been catastrophic. The IV needle broke during insertion. My condition was very serious. My mother was with me during this time,” he added. Tilak Varma made his T20I debut for India after a stellar IPL 2023 season with Mumbai Indians. Since then he has played four ODIs and 32 T20Is. His defining moment came on 28 September when he played the winning knock in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan to help India win the final.
