India vs West Indies: Tilak Varma's Father Explains How Coach Salam Played Big Role in Youngster's Career

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Tilak Varma has shown remarkable consistency with the bat ever since he announced his arrival in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Mumbai Indians in 2022. The young batter was rewarded for his hard work with a Team India call up.

And the Hyderabad cricketer has not disappointed in his three outings for the national team in West Indies, scoring 139 runs including 1 fifty at an average of 69.50 and a strike rate of 139.00 in challenging conditions.

Now, the young talent Varma's father Namboori Nagaraju has described how coach Salam Bayash played a big role in the young batter's career. With the guidance of his mentor and godfather, Coach Salam, Tilak's trajectory soared higher.

In a candid conversation exclusively with Star Sports' Follow the Blues, the touching journey of Tilak Varma was brought to light, tracing back to his formative years. Varma's father Nagaraju, reminisced Tilak's childhood days and how his love for cricket was boundless ever since he was a kid.

"From the time he was a child, he always had a bat in his hand, all the time he used to play with his cricket bat. We bought him that plastic bat which you get from toy stores, and even when he slept, he used to keep the bat and ball by his side," Varma's father told on Star Sports' Follow The Blues.

Recounting his family's support, Tilak reflected on how his father, an electrician by profession, worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk to facilitate his cricketing aspirations.

"My family support was very good. My father was an electrician so he used to work a lot. He used to work from the morning to the evening just to send me to the cricket academy. He worked a lot for me. Sometimes, I didn't have a bat so I used to ask my father and he always said he will provide it for me," Varma said.

Guiding Tilak's path was the influential figure of Coach Salam Bayash, a mentor who not only nurtured his cricketing skills but also acted as a guardian and encourager.

Nagaraju accredited Tilak success to his coach Salam, saying "Salam sir used to encourage him a lot, whether it was his lunch or his cricket equipment, he said that he would give it to him. He used to tell me that if there was any issue, he is always there, we have to get him (Tilak) to the next level. "

Tilak's father also added that coach Salam assured them that education and money will not be an issue and the coach played a big role in his career.

"I used to tell Salam Sir that he should not fall short in studies, he used to assure us that everything would be fine and money would not be an issue. He used to encourage him a lot, he was like a godfather to him."

Tilak marked by his debut for Hyderabad against Andhra Pradesh in 2018, followed by a list-A debut in 2019, which later earned him a spot in the Indian squad for the U-19 World Cup.

Reflecting on this monumental achievement, Tilak's father, Nagaraju, said the U-19 selection was the turning point in his son's career and that was a very happy moment for coach Salam.

"The U-19 world cup was a big turning point. He was so happy when he got selected in the team for the tournament. He immediately informed Salam Sir, and he was also very happy for him. Whatever happens, Tilak played for the U-19 world cup and that was a big achievement for him. He played very well."

(With Agency inputs)