How Akash Ambani helped Tilak Varma during life-threatning muscle disease

Tilak Varma reveals how Akash Ambani helped him. (Photo: Mumbai Indians)

Tilak Varma is one of the most talented batters coming through the ranks in Indian cricket. The 22-year-old recently impressed with a match-winning knock of 69*(53 balls) in the final of the 2025 Asia Cup against Pakistan after the top three Indian batters had been bundled out with just 20 runs on the scoreboard. The left-hand batter recently opened up in a conversation with Gaurav Kapoor on his show, ‘Breakfast with Champions’, where he revealed his struggle with Rhabdomyolysis. It’s a condition where skeletal muscle tissue begins degenerating, releasing myoglobin in the bloodstream. The disease can be fatal, leading to serious complications.

On the show, Tilak revealed how Mumbai Indians owner Akash Ambani, former BCCI secretary Jay Shah and the BCCI Centre of Excellence helped him get through the difficult time.

“After the first IPL, I faced some health issues,” said Tilak. “I was pushing hard to make it to the Test team, playing domestic cricket, A series, attending camps and even on rest days I would be in the gym and in that process, I neglected recovery and didn’t allow my body the time it needed to heal. Later I was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis.”

Varma revealed that his struggle with the disease reached its peak during India A’s tour of Bangladesh in 2022, where he had to retire hurt in the first unofficial Test after scoring 33 (101). “My nerves were so stiff I could not move my fingers, my gloves had to be cut off,” he said. “Mumbai Indians were with me during that time. Akash Bhai called me immediately, he then spoke to Jay Shah and in collaboration with BCCI got me the treatment I needed.

“They hospitalised me immediately, the doctors told me if you had delayed a few more hours the disease could have been fatal. My muscles were so stiff that even the IV needles would break. I struggled so much in the hospital, my mother had to hand feed me for a month.”

His return to cricket after the health scare was at the IPL. Tilak admitted that he was grateful to be alive and in his first game of the season against RCB, he was only focused on enjoying his time out in the middle and batting without any pressure. He thanked Akash Ambani, Jay Shah, BCCI and COE for his recovery in the interview.