Tilak Varma Completes 5,000 T20 Runs in 166 Innings, Fifth-Fastest Indian to the Mark

Tilak Varma crossed 5,000 career T20 runs during the 2nd T20I against West Indies at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. He got there in his 166th T20 innings, making him the fifth-fastest Indian to reach the milestone.

Tilak came into the match on 4,987 runs from 165 innings, a tally that includes 5 hundreds and 30 fifties across T20 cricket. He walked in at number six with India well placed and finished unbeaten on 44 off 18 balls, with 3 fours and 3 sixes, a strike rate of 244.44. The knock helped India reach 249 for 5, though West Indies chased it down with 9 balls to spare.

The milestone caps a busy year for the left-hander, who is India's T20I vice-captain. He had already moved past MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina on India's all-time T20I run-scoring list in July, and his 51 not out off 22 balls in the Asian Games gold medal match against Pakistan took him to the brink of 5,000 days before this game.

India now head to Indore for the 3rd T20I on October 11, with the series level at 1-1.