HYDERABAD—Following his heroics in India's record ninth Asia Cup triumph, rising cricket star Tilak Varma has credited his resilience and unwavering support from his childhood coach, Salam Bayash, for his success. The young Hyderabadi batter, who was the Player of the Match in the dramatic final against Pakistan, reflected on his challenging past in an emotional interview.
After India found themselves in a precarious position at 20/3 while chasing 147, Varma's match-winning 69 off 53 balls steadied the innings and guided the team to a stunning five-wicket victory. His composed innings, which included three fours and four sixes, demonstrated a temperament well beyond his years.
Speaking to the media, Varma revealed the pivotal role his coach, Salam Bayash, played throughout his journey. "My coach told me that he knew I would make it big and become the number one player," Varma said. "He would tell me this even when I had not started playing for Hyderabad yet".
The 22-year-old opened up about the adversity he and his coach faced. "Many people also went against me and told things to my coach, but he never listened to anyone and worked a lot on me," Varma recalled.
He attributes his ability to perform under pressure to his difficult beginnings. "There were times when I even fell at people's feet asking for just one opportunity to play. That made me a hard person," he explained. "People say I do well under pressure. But I have seen such things that make me hard and all this feels like nothing".
The story of Varma's bond with his coach is well-known in cricketing circles. Bayash, who runs the Legala Cricket Academy in Hyderabad, spotted Varma's talent early on and took him under his wing. When Varma's family faced financial difficulties, Bayash provided him with cricket equipment, meals, and transportation, seeing his potential where others saw obstacles.
This emotional reflection on his past adds another layer to Varma's incredible rise. His match-winning performance in the Asia Cup final is not just a testament to his talent but also to the years of hard work, struggle, and the unwavering belief of a dedicated coach
