In Mumbai Indians’ previous match, the young left-hander was controversially retired out—a tactical move because he wasn’t scoring quickly enough. It was a rare and public blow. Most players would’ve taken time to bounce back.
Tilak responded immediately.
In the very next game, he smashed 56 off 29 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes, with a strike rate of over 193. It was the kind of knock that demanded attention. But even after reaching his fifty, he didn’t celebrate. He knew the job wasn’t done. The match was still hanging in the balance, and memories of the last game were fresh.
Still, despite his efforts, Mumbai Indians lost again. And with that, Tilak added to a strange and frustrating record.
He’s now scored seven half-centuries in the IPL—and his team has never won on any of those occasions.
That’s not just bad luck—it’s an IPL first. No other player has hit so many fifties without a single team victory to show for them. It’s happened twice against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and twice against Rajasthan Royals. And it’s been happening since his debut season in 2022.
Now under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, Tilak continues to pile up runs. But MI’s form is shaky, and his individual brilliance keeps going unrewarded.
At this point, even fans are joking: maybe Tilak should stop at 49.
Read Also: Hardik Pandya Spills the Truth on Tilak Varma’s IPL 2025 Exit
