Hampshire ink a short-term deal with Tilak Varma

Hampshire County Cricket Club has procured the services of Tilak Varma for the red-ball games. The young Indian southpaw will be available for Hampshire men’s next four matches in the County Championship, starting with the away fixture against Essex.

Varma has earned 29 caps for India, 25 of which have been in the shortest format where he has scored 749 runs with two tons – coming in back-to-back innings against South Africa in November 2024 – and three fifties, which includes a 72* against England at the beginning of this year. As of June 2025, Varma has the second highest average ever for any men’s batter in T20I cricket – 49.93 – and the best among ICC full member teams.

When it comes to red-ball cricket, Varma has played 18 first-class matches and represented India A in the Duleep Trophy and played two matches against England Lions in early 2024. He has 1200 FC runs under his belt with five centuries and four fifties at an excellent average of 50.16.

“It’s fantastic to have Tilak available for the next four County Championship matches,” Giles White, Director of Cricket, said. “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.”

Hampshire currently sit in seventh place in the County Championship Division One having achieved their best finish in the competition since 2005 last summer when the club finished as runners-up. The first chance Hampshire fans will have to watch the precocious talent will be at Chelmsford against Essex from 22-25 June before a home debut against Worcestershire from June 29 to July 2.