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NEW DELHI: India’s young left-handed batter Tilak Varma says his short spell with Hampshire in county cricket has given him lessons he will “carry for life.” The 22-year-old’s stint came to an end on Thursday with a duck in Hampshire’s five-wicket defeat to Worcestershire in Group A of the One-Day Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Growing up, I dreamt of playing County cricket. This year, that dream came true with Hampshire,” Varma wrote on Instagram. “My first red ball experience here, along with the ODI games, taught me lessons I will carry for life, not just as a cricketer, but as a person. Thank you, Hampshire CC, for the trust, the warmth, and memories I’ll never forget.”
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What do you think is the most valuable lesson Tilak Varma learned during his time with Hampshire?
Varma joined Hampshire last month on a four-game County Championship deal, having already made 29 appearances for India across white-ball formats. In seven matches across formats for the club, he scored 412 runs, including two centuries and two fifties, with a highest score of 112. He also took a wicket in three List A outings.Hampshire lauded the youngster’s impact both on and off the field. “From his maiden red-ball century to those sublime innings in Hampshire colours, he’s shown exactly why he’s one of cricket’s brightest talents,” the club posted. “Beyond the statistics, it’s been Tilak’s character and warmth that have truly impressed everyone at Utilita Bowl. He’s embraced Hampshire cricket with open arms. Thank you for the magic, Tilak. Once a Hampshire player, always part of the family.”On returning to India, Varma is slated to lead South Zone in the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy starting August 28 in Bengaluru, the curtain-raiser for India’s domestic season.
