Mumbai Indians' ace batsman Tilak Varma spared some time away from the tight IPL schedule last week to engage in a sporting game of pickleball with film actor Vijay Deverakonda. The two faced each other before their encounter against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, May 06.

The game of pickleball involved Vijay agreeing to wear the Mumbai Indians jersey in case Tilak's side won. Vijay and his companion defeated Tilak and his fellow player with difficulty in a hard-fought 2-1 victory. As much as this was an exhibition match, there was tension playing on both teams, as per Tilak's joke to do something for Vijay should he lose.

"We have placed a bet. If we lose, we must do something for Vijay Anna," Tilak explained. To which the superstar actor replied, "If we win, I will wear the Mumbai Indians jersey." This was not Tilak's first attempt at pickleball, as he was recently seen playing the sport with MI teammate Rohit Sharma and his daughter Samaira.

Watch the video here:

PICKLEBALL CHALLENGE...!!! 🔥

- Vijay Devarakonda playing pickleball with Tilak Varma, The collaboration by Mumbai Indians has been top notch in IPL 2025. pic.twitter.com/FoUS0k3v0Z

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 5, 2025

Jayawardene unperturbed by points table swings, Eyeing MI's last matches

If MI defeat GT, they can overtake Royal Challengers Bengaluru and reclaim the number one position on a superior net run rate. While this continuous swapping of the spots might be exasperating and annoying at times, Mumbai Indians' head coach Mahela Jayawardene expressed that he does not mind these frequent alterations in the points table.Jayawardene added that this is something that he and his team cannot control since the points table will be in a state of constant churning due to the close battle for the playoff positions.

"I mean, clearly, the number of games that you're playing and how that composition works, there is always going to be change, particularly with Punjab Kings having that odd number due to the rain-off game."."But aside from that, all those factors that we as a franchise and I as a coach cannot prevent, I would just concentrate tomorrow on the game, and the next game then, we've got three solid games against us, which would be good to us".So we just want to do what we've been doing, play some good cricket. The boys are concentrated on that, and the rest I can't control. So, my concentration would be what they might control at this point and just keep concentrating on," said Jayawardene in the pre-match press conference.

While Tilak Varma heroically guided the Indian team to a thrilling victory in the Chennai T20I against England last Saturday (January 25), many have appreciated him. Tollywood star Vijay Deverakonda shared an Instagram story of Varma’s success in the Chennai T20I. 

Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against England as the hosts won the first two games at Kolkata and Chennai. After a dominating seven-wicket win in the series opener at Kolkata, the Chennai T20I produced a thriller, where Tilak Varma rescued the hosts and brought a memorable victory.

Chasing down the 166-run target, Indian batters were losing wickets at regular intervals, but the no.3 batter Varma was solid in the crease. The left-handed batter got some crucial support in the lower order, but the hosts were always under pressure due to losing wickets at important moments. 

See Also: Jos Buttler becomes 1st English batter to hit 150 T20I sixes

Before Chennai T20I, Tilak Varma was not out in previous three T20I innings

The 22-year-old Varma, who was not out in the previous three T20I innings with the scores of 107*, 120*, and 19*, completed his third T20I fifty runs in 39 balls. He was even the hosts' last hope in the chase during the Chennai T20I, where the left-handed batter confidently held his nerve to secure a great win.

Tilak Varma finished the game with a boundary

Varma scored 72 not out off 55 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes, as it was his fourth straight T20I innings to finish without losing his wicket, and finished the game successfully with a four to Jamie Overton on the second ball of the final over of the match and secured a two-wicket win for the hosts.

Varma’s finishing was excellent, and India celebrated his match-winning jump. The ‘Liger’ movie famed Vijay Deverakonda shared India’s winning moment with Varma’s four on his Instagram story. The actor also wrote “Yessss boyyyy @tilakvarma9 🔥❤️ Lets gooooo! IndVsEng”