Tilak Varma hits Team India teammate for 4 to deliver up century in Duleep Trophy 2026 semifinal [Watch]

South Zone captain Tilak Varma delivered a gritty century under pressure, bringing up three figures with a crisp boundary off pacer Gurnoor Brar on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy semifinal against North Zone on Monday. The match is being played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru.

The 23-year-old stepped in during a severe top-order collapse that left South Zone reeling at 80 for 5 in response to North Zone’s 195. The left-hander anchored the innings alongside Shreyas Gopal, forging a crucial 175-run partnership that completely shifted momentum.

While Gopal fell to Arshdeep Singh for a well-made 88, Varma stood firm to reach his milestone off 219 deliveries. He reached his eighth first-class hundred by clipping a Brar delivery off his pads to the fence. Varma looked extremely happy after reaching the milestone and was cheered on by his teammates from the dressing room.

Watch the clip here:

The early collapse had been sparked by North Zone’s sharp bowling attack, but Varma’s composure against the likes of Brar and Singh steadied the ship for South Zone. His disciplined hundred erased the first-innings deficit and handed South Zone a valuable 90-run lead.

At stumps on Day 2, South Zone is at 285 for nine, with Varma batting at 106 alongside Kavuri Saiteja, who is yet to open his account.

Here is a glimpse of Tilak Varma’s first-class career

Varma made his first-class debut for Hyderabad during the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy season at age 16. Known for his sound technique, temperament, and adaptability against both pace and spin, the left-hander quickly developed into a dependable middle-order anchor.

He has amassed 1,562 runs across 23 first-class matches (35 innings) at a 50.38 average, including seven centuries and five half-centuries before the start of the current Duleep Trophy encounter. Representing Hyderabad, India A, and Hampshire, he also contributes part-time off-spin with eight wickets at 24.12 and an economy under 4.0, while taking 10 catches.