“I will play in all positions and show now.”
Tilak Varmasaid this to his coach Salam Bayash after a 44 off 16 balls against Zimbabwe.
The T20 World Cup World Cup had not gone well until then — three games at number three, the shots not coming, the runs not following.
The order change had been forced.
The cameo had arrived.
And now the pupil was telling his teacher: watch.
Bayash chuckles, recalling it to this newspaper.
* * *Eleven years earlier, Namboori Nagaraju was an electrician whose son wanted to play cricket.
The academy was forty kilometres away — Barkas to Lingampally, every day.
He looked at those numbers and said no.
Bayash said he would sort the transport.
He would waive the fees.
The father didn’t need to pick Tilak up or drop him off.
Then they agreed.
* * *Before the 2026 T20 World Cup, an injury had knocked Tilak back.
He was feeling down, uncertain.
Bayash had seen this before.
“Ups and downs are common,” he told Tilak.
“Every cricketer tends to get injured, even the greatest.
They are mentally strong and with you too, this time shall pass.”
Tilak left for the NCA, completed his rehabilitation, came back fit and strong.
Then the World Cup began — and new pressures arrived.
The early games were difficult.
Tilak at number three looked unlike himself.
When the team pushed him down the order after the Super 8 loss to South Africa, Bayash didn’t soften his words.
This was not the moment for encouragement.
“You are not making runs because your shot selection is not right,” he said.
“Focus on the errors you are making.”
It is what Bayash had always done — adapted his advice to what Tilak needed.
In the early years he scolded.
As Tilak grew and the stakes rose, the scolding gave way to encouragement.
But there are moments when a pupil needs the original version of his teacher.
After South Africa, this was one of them.
The cameo against Zimbabwe followed.
Sixteen balls.
Forty-four runs.
And the phone call to Bayash.
“I will play in all positions and show now.”
Before the final, Tilak sought his guru out one more time.
The advice was the same simplicity it had always been.
“Whatever position you are given to bat, do that well.
We are one step away from the dream.
Even if you don’t get the batting, do your best fielding, beta.”
Tilak scored eight from six balls.
He took two catches — Finn Allen in the deep, Jacob Duffy at the end to complete India’s win.
* * *Bayash had seen something in the twelve-year-old boy from the beginning — not just talent but a quality harder to find.
“The kids these days, after playing a bit, change,” he said.
“This boy is still the same.
His family is also the same.
They treat me like their own family.”
From the start, Bayash drilled him for every position, every situation.
In the academy games, Tilak batted at different numbers, faced both the newer ball and the older.
“Bhai, apko har situation pe tayar rehna hai.” Every situation demands a different kind of batting.
When the World Cup pushed Tilak down the order mid-tournament, he was ready — because Bayash had prepared him for exactly this, years before the tournament existed.
* * *When Bayash was in the ICU with COVID — fifteen days, the doctor saying chances were slim — Tilak came to the hospital every day.
Bayash, even then, scolded him.
Go practice.
Stop coming.
Tilak stopped entering the room.
He sat outside instead.
He spoke to the doctors.
He consoled Bayash’s wife that he would take care of things.
“I could see his love and respect for me at the time,” Bayash said.
Nagaraju had wanted his son to study medicine.
Tilak, twelve years old, had a different view.
“If I study medicine, I will be known inHyderabad,” he told his father.
“If I play sports, I will be known at the world level.”
That sentence, Nagaraju said, touched his heart.
He let his son go to Bayash.
Forty kilometres every day.
Fees waived.
Transport sorted.
These days, Tilak still returns to the Legala academy.
Not just to talk to Bayash but to speak to the younger cricketers coming up.
When they ask him for advice, he tells them: “Learn how to work hard from Bayash sir.
How to navigate different conditions — come to me.”
On Sunday inAhmedabad, Tilak Varma took the catch that finished the World Cup final.
He went straight to his family.
Then to Bayash.
“He was a 12-year-old boy and is now 23 years old,” Bayash said.
“Jitna happy tha uska koi word nahi.” He put the medal around his coach’s neck.
The man who had waived the fees, sorted the transport, told a boy outside an ICU to go home and practice.
Tanishq Vaddi is a Sports Writer with the online team of The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad.
He primarily covers cricket and is known for his in-depth analysis and technical reporting on the game.
Professional Background
Role: He covers a wide range of cricketing action, including international matches (Tests, T20Is), domestic tournaments (Challenger Trophy), and major cricket leagues (IPL, WPL).
Education: Tanishq holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from MVSR Engineering College and a PG Diploma in English Journalism (Print) from the Asian School of Journalism.
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express in late 2022, he gained experience covering the startup ecosystem at YourStory and worked as a copywriter at Story Digital.
Key Areas of Coverage
Tanishq’s writing often focuses on the technical and psychological aspects of cricket.
His notable work includes:
Technical Analysis: Explaining bowling actions (e.g., Simon Harmer’s bounce) and batting techniques (e.g., Ben Duckett’s sweep shot).
Interviews: He has interviewed prominent figures such as former England player Nick Knight, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and mental health coach Paddy Upton.
Statistical Comparisons: Detailed career analysis, such as comparing Shubman Gill’s early career stats with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
Regional Cricket: Reporting on developments in South Indian cricket, including the appointment of Gary Stead as the head coach for Andhra.
Notable Recent Articles
"IND vs SA 2nd Test: How did Simon Harmer beat Yashasvi Jaiswal with bounce?" (Nov 2025)
"2026 Under-19 World Cup: Bowling coach outlines India's preparation" (Nov 2025)
"Nick Knight interview: Joe Root will score big runs in Australia" (Nov 2025)
"Gary Stead appointed as head coach for Andhra for the 25/26 season" (Sept 2025)
"Jason Gillespie explains what makes Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins so special, and why reverse swing will be key with Kookaburra ball"
You can follow his latest reports on the Indian Express website or via his Twitter handle @TanishqVaddi....
Read More
Stay updated with the latestsports newsacrossCricket,Football,Chess, and more.
Catch all the action with real-timelive cricket score updatesand in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.
Related Stories
Source: This article was originally published by The Indian Express
Read Full Original Article →
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment