Indian batter Tilak Varma joins Hampshire for county championship matches

Young India batter Tilak Varma has signed with Hampshire to play four matches in the ongoing Rothesay County Championship between June 22 and August 1.
The 22-year-old left-handed allrounder from Hyderabad will be available for Hampshire's next four fixtures, beginning with their away clash against Essex at Chelmsford from June 22-25.
Varma has represented India in 29 matches, including 25 T20Is, scoring 749 runs with two centuries -- both against South Africa in November 2024 -- and three fifties, including an unbeaten 72 against England earlier this year.
A rising T20 star, Varma made his debut in the format in 2019 and was picked by Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2022 IPL season.
Since then, he has scored just under 1,500 runs in 54 matches for the franchise at an average of 37.47 and a strike rate of 144.41, including eight fifties.
As of June 2025, he holds the second-highest average in T20Is -- 49.93 -- the best among batters from ICC full-member nations.
"It's fantastic to have Tilak available for the next four County Championship matches," said Giles White, Hampshire's Director of Cricket.
"He's an exciting talent who has already made a big impact on the international stage and in the IPL, and we look forward to seeing what he can do for Hampshire this summer." Varma also has a strong red-ball resume, having played 18 first-class matches, including appearances for India A in the Duleep Trophy and against England Lions earlier this year. He has scored over 1,200 runs with five centuries and four fifties at an impressive average of 50.16.
Hampshire currently sit seventh in Division One after finishing runners-up last season -- their best result since 2005.
After the Essex match, Varma is expected to make his home debut for Hampshire against Worcestershire at the Ageas Bowl from June 29-July 2.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

India Gazette

an hour ago

• India Gazette

Nottinghamshire signs Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan for short-term deal

New Delhi [India] June 20 (ANI): India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has signed for Nottinghamshire, on a short-term deal covering the next two Rothesay County Championship fixtures, according to ESPNcricinfo. He will be eligible for selection for the upcoming Championship fixtures against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge and Somerset in Taunton. The left-hander will serve as Kyle Verreynne's replacement while the World Test Championship-winning South African is away playing a two-Test series in Zimbabwe. Having been included in India's squad for the 2023 World Test Championship final, Ishan made his Test bow a month later against West Indies and struck an unbeaten 52 from just 34 deliveries in his second match. Kishan is known for his limited-overs game but has 3447 first-class runs in 58 games, including 17 half-centuries and eight hundreds. The wicketkeeper-batter also has 118 catches and 11 stumpings. He has also turned out for IPL sides Gujarat Lions, Mumbai Indians, and, most recently, Sunrisers Hyderabad, for whom he hit a 47-ball 106 this year. 'I'm feeling very excited to get my first taste of playing county cricket in England, and it will be a great chance to showcase my skills,' Ishan Kishan said. 'I want to make sure I am the best cricketer I can be, and playing in English conditions will really help me to learn new skills.' 'Trent Bridge is such a famous ground that is well-known in India and around the world, and I am really excited that I will be playing there,' he added. Nottinghamshire, Head Coach Peter Moores added, 'We're all very pleased to have secured the services of Ishan for these next two Championship fixtures while Kyle is away with South Africa.' 'We want players to be themselves and to bring their own game, and something that especially excites me about Ishan is how keen he is to be involved in county cricket,' Peter Moores said. 'He brings proven quality in his ball-striking, as a hard-hitting middle-order batter, but while he's still developing his red-ball game, this spell will be really beneficial for him, and for us,' he added. Kishan will join a handful of other Indian players in the Championship, with Tilak Varma signing a short-term deal with Hampshire, Ruturaj Gaikwad will join Yorkshire for the second half of the summer, and Yuzvendra Chahal is due to return to Northamptonshire later this month. (ANI)

Time of India

3 hours ago

• Time of India

IND vs ENG 1st Test: What makes Yashasvi Jaiswal different? His former Rajasthan Royals teammates explain

Yashasvi Jaiswal (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: In the IPL and T20Is, Yashasvi Jaiswal has built his reputation by playing 360-degree shots. But in Test cricket, he plays in stark contrast to his aggressive nature — biding his time, and striking only when the opportunity arises. On Friday, the 23-year-old scored an exquisite hundred in the first innings of the Leeds Test. It was an innings of two halves: his first 50 came off 96 balls, while his second came in just 48. It marked his fifth Test ton and third against England. He joined the elite list of Vijay Manjrekar, Sourav Ganguly, Sandeep Patil, and Murali Vijay by scoring a century in his first outing in England. Jaiswal was dismissed for 101 on Day 1 of the first Test of the five-match series against England in Leeds. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In Jaiswal's case, cricket greats have often cited his 'inherent hunger' and 'desperation to succeed' — attributes rooted to his humble beginnings. Jaiswal's story is indeed inspiring. But Jos Buttler , his former Rajasthan Royals teammate, credits the youngster's fearless approach for his excellence in both T20s and Test cricket. "It's probably the mindset — the sort of attitude to risk is a lot — and he is very willing to take what may seem on the outside like a risk, but I don't think players now see it as a risk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม IC Markets สมัคร Undo He plays a lot of different shots from ball one," Buttler told in an interaction during IPL 2025. Buttler, who has observed Jaiswal's growth up close at the Rajasthan Royals, explained what makes the opener so special. "He has got excellent fundamental basics of the game as well. And I think that will never really change over time," he shared. Shubman's Big Test Begins! India's Probable XI & Stokes' Mind Games | ENG vs IND 1st Test Preview "We certainly do play in a time now where there are players who are more focused on being hitters of the cricket ball and sort of setting up their techniques for that. "But, you know, the basics sort of remain the same — being in a good solid base, having a good head position, everything working well together. I think the basics will always take care of where to start, and then you develop the rest of your game after that. So I think it's important, in and around your practice, to make sure you have a bit of that. "And I think that's what he does. Guys like Jaiswal are very successful in Test cricket as well as T20 cricket because their game is so strong," he added. Buttler, the former England white-ball captain, had also posted a heartfelt message when Jaiswal took England to the cleaners during the home series in early 2024 — explaining why he enjoys Jaiswal's batting, even if it comes against his own country. "Shame he's doing it against England but v(very) hard not to be so happy for @yashasvijaiswal28. Getting everything he deserves from his talent, hunger and work ethic. WHAT A STAR!" Buttler had written in his Instagram story. How Shubman Gill prepared for the first Test vs England in Leeds | Exclusive from Nets Joe Root, who spent a season with Jaiswal at the Royals during IPL 2023, had also showered praise on the southpaw. 'His ability to strike cleanly and blast the ball to all parts from ball one is impressive. But to be able to transfer skills to the Test format [means] he has got a very sound technique,' Root had said of Jaiswal. In the home series against England, Jaiswal had scored 712 runs in 2024. He then finished as India's leading run-getter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, finishing with 391 runs, including a 161 in Perth and a couple of fifties in Melbourne. Now, on his first tour of England, he has opened his account with a century. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

Hans India

3 hours ago

• Hans India

Nottinghamshire rope in Ishan Kishan on short-term deal

Nottingham: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has signed for Nottinghamshire on a short-term deal covering the next two Rothesay County Championship fixtures. The left-hander will serve as Kyle Verreynne's replacement while the World Test Championship-winning South African is away playing a two-Test series in Zimbabwe. He will be eligible for selection for the upcoming Championship fixtures against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge and Somerset in Taunton. 'I'm feeling very excited to get my first taste of playing county cricket in England, and it will be a great chance to showcase my skills. I want to make sure I am the best cricketer I can be, and playing in English conditions will really help me to learn new skills. 'Trent Bridge is such a famous ground that is well-known in India and around the world, and I am really excited that I will be playing there," said Kishan. The left-hander will serve as Kyle Verreynne's replacement while the World Test Championship-winning South African is away playing a two-Test series in Zimbabwe. Ishan, whose move is subject to international clearance, is a former Asia Cup and U19 World Cup winner with India, and has represented his nation at senior level in all three international formats. Having been included in India's squad for the 2023 World Test Championship final, Ishan made his Test bow a month later against West Indies and struck an unbeaten 52 from just 34 deliveries in his second match. He has over 3,000 First-Class runs to his name, with 17 half-centuries and eight hundreds, alongside having claimed 118 victims from behind the stumps. Ishan has represented Jharkand in the Ranji Trophy for his entire career, and in 2016, still aged only 18, he struck 273 against Delhi, which at the time was a new record for Jharkand in the competition. He has also turned out for IPL sides Gujarat Lions, Mumbai Indians, and, most recently, Sunrisers Hyderabad, for whom he hit a 47-ball 106in the 2025 edition. Head Coach Peter Moores added: 'We're all very pleased to have secured the services of Ishan for these next two Championship fixtures while Kyle is away with South Africa. 'We want players to be themselves and to bring their own game, and something that especially excites me about Ishan is how keen he is to be involved in county cricket. 'He brings proven quality in his ball-striking, as a hard-hitting middle-order batter, but while he's still developing his red-ball game, this spell will be really beneficial for him, and for us.'