Tilak Varma recalls battle with life-threatening muscle disease, thanks Akash Ambani
India’s Asia Cup hero Tilak Varma has revealed previously undisclosed details about a major health scare he endured in 2022, disclosing that he suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a rare and potentially dangerous condition caused by rapid muscle breakdown.
Tilak said he hadn’t focused enough on recovery after strenuous days on the field, adding that he was fortunately diagnosed and treated for the condition in time.
Speaking to Gaurav Kapur on Breakfast with Champions, the Mumbai Indians batter recalled being rushed to hospital from the ground after his muscles stiffened so severely that his gloves had to be cut off during a competitive game.
The left-handed batter expressed his gratitude to Mumbai Indians co-owner Akash Ambani and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their timely support.
“I haven’t opened up about this to anyone,” Tilak said before sharing the full details.
“After my first IPL, I had some health problems. I wanted to be fit. These things have not come out. I was diagnosed with something called Rhabdomyolysis in which muscle breakdowns happen. I had in me that I wanted to be in the Test team, was playing domestic cricket, A series, camp was going on.”
‘MUSCLE WAS OVERSTRAINED, BROKE DOWN’
Tilak described what led to the scare:
“Even on rest days, I was in the gym. I wanted to be the fittest player in the world and an excellent fielder, so I wasn’t quite focusing on recovery. I was taking ice baths but I was not giving my body the proper time to recover. I was pushing myself even on rest days. So, the muscle was overstrained and it broke down. The nerves became quite hard.
“Mumbai Indians was there with me and I was playing the A series in Bangladesh. I pushed myself for a hundred, my eyes started tearing up. My fingers weren’t at all moving. Everything became so hard, it felt like a stone. I had to retire hurt, gloves had to be cut off because fingers weren’t moving.
“Immediately, I got a call from Akash Ambani. He spoke to the BCCI, which helped me a lot. Thanks to Jay Shah sir. I was immediately admitted to the hospital. The doctors told me had I delayed by even a few hours, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Even the IV line needle wasn’t going in. The needle was breaking. My condition was very bad in the hospital. My mother was with me.”
Tilak Varma Revealed After His First IPL in 2022 How He was Diagnosed With Rhabdomyolysis. How Akash Ambani & BCCI Helped Him. Few Hour Here n There Ded Stage! Later on He Cameback in IPL Played One Of The Magnificent Knock Against RCB in IPL 2023. An Insane Story Man 🫡. [ BWC ] pic.twitter.com/HE4crZD4Nt
— яιşнí. (@BellaDon_3z) October 23, 2025
Tilak said he was out of action for several months while recovering from the condition.
He focused on regaining fitness before making his return, rejoining Mumbai Indians for the 2023 IPL season and making an immediate impact. In his first match back, he scored his highest IPL total, 84 not out from 46 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, signalling both a personal triumph and a testament to his resilience.
Fortunately, Tilak has remained free from health scares since. After a productive IPL season in 2023, he made his international debut later that year. He has now played four ODIs and 32 T20Is, establishing himself as a mainstay in India’s shortest format.Tilak became a national hero last monthwith a match-winning knock under pressure against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai.
Tilak is next set to feature in India’s five-match T20I series against Australia, starting later in October. He departed for Australia on Thursday along with Jasprit Bumrah.
