Tilak Varma breaks Virat Kohli’s massive record during IND vs SA 3rd T20I in Dharamshala

The left-handed batter in the Indian cricket team, Tilak Varma, has been in extraordinary form since his debut in the shortest format of the game, and he has continued that success in the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa at home. During the third clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala, he overtook Virat Kohli’s record.

Virat Kohli was known for setting the gold standard in run chases, and Varma has become the batter with the best average in T20I run chases, underlining his growing reputation in T20Is. Being promoted at number three against the Proteas, the Hyderabad batter played an uncharacteristic knock in tempo.

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The southpaw remained unbeaten in 25 runs in 34 balls at a strike rate of 73.53 with the help of three boundaries during India’s successful chase of 120 runs in 15.5 overs by seven wickets in hand to go 2-1 up in the series ahead of the fourth clash in Lucknow two days later.

Tilak Varma overtakes Virat Kohli’s T20I record

With the innings, Varma now has an average of 70.50 against South Africa in T20Is- which is the highest by an Indian batter against a particular side, surpassing Kohli’s 70.28 against Pakistan in the list of scoring minimum 300 runs. The biggest landmark comes in run-chases as Tilak averages 68 in T20I chases, overtaking Kohli’s celebrated mark of 67.1 from the Test-playing nations as opponents.

Tilak has overall collected 1109 runs in 36 innings of the shortest format at an average of 48.22 and a strike rate of 142.31 with the help of five half-centuries and two centuries at the best score of 120. He will look to continue the same dominance in the last two T20Is of the ongoing series in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

Varma has been fabulous in pressure situations in the shortest format, as he played the crucial knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final. He will also feature in the upcoming five-match T20I series at home against New Zealand, early next year.