In a thrilling IPL 2026 match held on May 14 in Dharamsala, the Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated the Punjab Kings (PBKS), thanks in large part to Tilak Varma's impressive innings of 75 runs off 33 balls. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan praised Varma for his high-class batting, noting his ability to read the game effectively, as demonstrated in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan. Pathan specifically highlighted Varma's performance in the 18th over, where he scored 22 runs off Marco Jansen, crucially shifting the match in MI's favor.

Pathan emphasized Varma's confidence and technical prowess, mentioning that he made the most of the pitch's bounce. With 336 runs at a strike rate of 162.31 in the tournament, Varma stands as MI's second-highest run-scorer this season, trailing only Ryan Rickelton. Pathan believes that if Varma consistently bats at No. 3 or No. 4, he could significantly enhance his contributions to the team.