Chelmsford, June 24 (H.S.): Indian left-handed batsman Tilak Varma scored a century on his debut in the County Championship for Hampshire against Essex at the County Ground, Chelmsford. Batting at number four, he reached 100 runs off 241 balls, including 11 fours and 3 sixes, after starting from 98. He fell to South African off-spinner Simon Harmer soon after.

Varma built a pivotal 133-run partnership for the fifth wicket with England's Liam Dawson, who also achieved his 18th first-class century. This marks Varma’s sixth first-class century, with previous ones for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, India A against New Zealand A, and one in the Duleep Trophy. He made his first-class debut in 2019, with all centuries coming since September 2022. In IPL 2025, he had a modest season, scoring 343 runs in 13 innings.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar