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On June 23, two Indian batters who are eyeing a spot in India's Test squad, made their respective County debuts. After Ishan Kishan's explosive 87 for Nottinghamshire against Yorkshire in the ongoing County Championship Division One 2025, Tilak Varma walked out to bat when the Essex bowler Samuel Cook was on hat-trick. Varma proved he can bat in challenging English conditions and scored an unbeaten 98 on Day 2 of his County debut match.
England pacer on hat-trick when Varma arrived at crease
Cook had dismissed Alistair Orr and Nick Gubbins out off consecutive deliveries in the ninth over. Cook had recently made his Test debut against Zimbabwe where he claimed one wicket. He was part of England's squad for first Test as well but did not get a chance to be a part of playing XI. He was released to play in the County match.
Varma shares crucial partnerships
After two early wickets, Varma steadied the ship with opener Fletcha Middleton. In the 30th over, off-spinner Simon Harmer dismissed Middleton. The opener scored 61 runs from 82 deliveries. Middleton and Varma shared a 52-run partnership. Varma continued to bat patiently. Captain Ben Brown walked out to bat and scored 42 runs from 68 balls before he was dismissed by Matthew Critchley.
Varma, Dawson in control of innings
The 22-year-old dig in his heels. He took 126 deliveries to reach his fifty. However, he was not afraid to take the aerial route and smashed three sixes as well. Liam Dawson and Varma shared an unbeaten 129-run partnership for the fifth wicket. At the end of day's play, Varma was batting on 98 from 234 deliveries. He hit 11 fours as well. On the other end, Dawson scored 79 runs from 132 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. Hampshire were 293/4, three runs shy of Essex's first innings score.
Not just a T20 batter
After the day's play, Varma talked about the need to be in the present to get to three figures. He opened up on his ambitions to play Test cricket. Also, he wants to get rid of the image that he is only a good T20 batter. He hopes to get a big one for Hampshire on debut.
"When you are in 90s at the end of day's play, it goes in your mind. You are like 2 more runs, 5 more runs. I will be living in present. Even after 100, there is a long way to go. That's how I look at it. From here, if we keep going and get another 100-150 runs, it is good for us and the team," Varma told Hampshire County.
"I always say that Test cricket is my favourite game. I was waiting for this opportunity. Being a world no.3 batsman in T20Is, everybody thinks I am a good T20 batter. But I know, and I have been saying this for a long time, I am a good Test player. I love playing Test cricket, playing close to the body, being challenged, especially in English conditions. It was cold weather today in the morning so the ball was moving a bit and turning.
"Harmer was bowling ver well on this wicket. He was not giving any loose deliveries. It was challenging and I thought that it is a great opportunity to express. By god's grace, I have got runs today."
Varma to enter elite list
If he gets two more runs, he will become the fourth Indian batter to score a century on County debut. The other three Indian batters to achieve the feat are Piyush Chawla (Somerset, 2013), Murali Vijay (Essex, 2018) and Ajinkya Rahane (Hampshire, 2019).
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