NEW DELHI: Cricketer Tilak Varma's childhood coach Salam Bayash was riding his scooter back home when his phone began to vibrate persistently. Initially, he ignored the calls, but as the phone continued to buzz, Bayash parked his scooter on the side of the road and checked his phone. There were around 35 video calls, and all were from his student Tilak.
A shell-shocked coach called Tilak back. Before he could ask what had happened, the 20-year-old, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, burst out with excitement, and said, "Sir, I have been selected in the Indian team!". Varma got his maiden India call-up when he was named in India's squad for the upcoming five T20Is against the West Indies.
