Young Indian batter Tilak Varma has etched his name into the record books by overtaking Virat Kohli in a key Twenty20 International batting statistic. During India’s convincing third T20I win over South Africa in Dharamsala, Varma became the player with the highest batting average in T20I run chases among players with at least 500 runs in that situation — surpassing the mark previously held by Kohli.
At just 23 years old, Varma’s consistency under pressure has been remarkable. His latest unbeaten contribution in the chase helped India secure a strong seven-wicket victory, and the milestone highlights his growing importance in India’s T20 setup.
In statistical terms, Varma now averages around 68 in T20I chases (minimum 500 runs), just ahead of Kohli’s 67.1 — a benchmark that had stood for years. Beyond that, he also now holds the best batting average by an Indian against a single opponent (South Africa) in T20Is, recording 70.50 against the Proteas, slightly higher than Kohli’s previous best against Pakistan.
Cricket fans and analysts alike are hailing Varma as India’s new “chase master”, a role once synonymous with Kohli’s name in the shortest format of the game. His composure, adaptability and ability to finish games has quickly turned him into one of the team’s most reliable middle-order batters.
