Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya, left, and Tilak Varma (PTI Photo)
Tilak Varma announced himself in emphatic fashion with his maiden IPL century, an innings that not only powered Mumbai Indians to a crucial win but also drew high praise from
Ravichandran Ashwin
. Chasing momentum after a difficult run, Mumbai found their spark through Tilak’s unbeaten 101 off just 45 balls against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. While the knock itself stood out, Ashwin highlighted the influence of skipper
Hardik Pandya
during the partnership, pointing to his animated mid-pitch conversations with Tilak as a key factor in shifting the energy of the innings. “Hardik Pandya was talking to him (Tilak Varma) while batting, he motivated him, he did it like how we see in WWF (WWE). Just like Triple H used to do with water. So whatever Hardik Pandya said and did worked for Tilak Varma,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Though Hardik wasn’t the primary aggressor, his presence and encouragement appeared to play a role in keeping Tilak locked in. From there, the young left-hander took charge, dismantling a quality bowling attack and turning the game decisively in Mumbai’s favour. Ashwin was particularly struck by the standard of the innings, placing it among the finest he has witnessed in the IPL. “This is easily one of the best IPL hundreds that I have seen. To take down Ashok Sharma, Prasidh Krishna,
Rashid Khan
, and
Mohammed Siraj
on this pitch, it was probably one of the best IPL hundreds that I have ever seen,” he said on his YouTube channel. The context made the effort even more impressive. This was not a routine century on a batting-friendly surface, but one crafted against a formidable attack featuring proven match-winners like Rashid Khan and Mohammed Siraj.
Tilak’s late acceleration ensured Mumbai pushed well beyond a competitive score. Ashwin also identified the final overs as the turning point that sealed Gujarat’s fate. “The momentum that MI got in the last three overs, the game was over for GT. The moment MI crossed 175 on this pitch, the game was done,” he added. That late surge proved decisive, as Mumbai transformed a strong total into a match-winning one, leaving Gujarat with too much to chase under pressure. For Mumbai, the victory carried added significance. After a string of setbacks, this was the kind of performance that could reset their campaign. Tilak’s breakthrough innings provided the foundation, while Hardik’s on-field presence added another layer to the story. As Ashwin’s remarks suggested, it was a mix of timing, intent and leadership that helped Mumbai rediscover their edge.
