Tilak Varma, the promising 22-year-old Indian batsman, has agreed to a brief stint with Hampshire, set to feature in four County Championship matches in June and July. Varma, enthused about honing his skills in English conditions, has a notable record in the short red-ball span he has experienced. Despite playing merely 18 first-class matches, he already boasts five centuries, one being for India A against New Zealand A, maintaining an impressive average of 50.16.
After a mixed start to the season, Hampshire stands seventh in Division One, aiming for a boost in their batting lineup that Varma is expected to provide. His arrival is timely, with the squad facing challenges after James Vince’s departure from red-ball cricket. They are preparing for their upcoming match against Essex at Chelmsford on June 22.
Previously, Hampshire had anticipated Dewald Brevis’ presence for their late-June fixtures. However, his commitment to South Africa’s Test squad in Zimbabwe means he will miss these games. The same goes for Lhuan-dre Pretorius, both missing the latter T20 Blast group stage. Hampshire’s director of cricket, Giles White, shared that the club is holding “advanced conversations” for cover, though it’s confirmed Varma won’t participate in the Blast. This is due to the BCCI’s rule barring current Indian players from overseas T20 leagues.
Additionally, Varma will join other Indian cricketers in the Championship, such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, heading to Yorkshire for the summer’s second half, and Yuzvendra Chahal, planning a return to Northamptonshire shortly. While Hampshire has yet to make Varma’s signing official, the Hyderabad Cricket Association has extended their best wishes for his time with Hampshire, which was disclosed in a message on Wednesday.
Matt Roller, senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo, @mroller98
