India batter Tilak Varma shared an untold story about suffering from a disease called rhabdomyolysis, a rare and potentially dangerous condition caused by rapid muscle breakdown, and how Akash Ambani, Mumbai Indians co-owner, and the BCCI helped him recover during that difficult time.
After his maiden stint with MI in 2022, Tilak was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. He 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.
“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 haven’t come out before. I was diagnosed with something called rhabdomyolysis, in which muscle breakdown occurs. I wanted to be in the Test team, was playing domestic cricket, the A series, and attending camps.”
Tilak recounted the full story, saying:
“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 really focusing on recovery. I was taking ice baths, but I wasn’t giving my body enough time to recover. I kept pushing myself even on rest days. So, the muscles were overstrained and started to break down. The nerves became quite hard.
“Mumbai Indians were 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 moving at all. Everything became so stiff; it felt like stone. I had to retire hurt, and my gloves had to be cut off because my fingers wouldn’t move.
“Immediately, I got a call from Akash Ambani. He spoke to the BCCI, who helped me a lot. Thanks to Jay Shah sir. I was immediately admitted to hospital. The doctors told me that had I delayed by even a few hours, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Even the IV line needle wasn’t going in; it was breaking. My condition in hospital was very bad. My mother was with me.”
In 2023, after completing his recovery, Tilak enjoyed a productive IPL season, which helped him make his India debut. Now a regular part of India’s T20I setup, the southpaw recently played a match-winning innings in the Asia Cup final, helping his team secure victory against Pakistan.
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