Tilak Varma stood at the summit on Sunday, leading India to the tri-series title in Sri Lanka. By the end of the day, he was back in Hyderabad.

For most players, the next step after an international triumph would be rest, recovery and a moment for it to soak in. Tilak, however, chose differently. He was back on the field, this time for the maiden season of TG20, Telangana’s domestic T20 league, to captain his franchise Medak Falcons.

“Tilak came to meet the players at the team hotel on Sunday evening and returned the next morning to have one-on-one conversations with them. He told them to enjoy the occasion,” T. Ravi Teja, Falcons’ designated skipper, revealed to The Hindu.

A stacked calendar notwithstanding, Tilak prioritised motivating the squad and dangling perhaps the most irresistible carrot in the T20 universe — possible trials with IPL teams for standout performers.

Warangal Warriors smashed its way to 258 for seven, riding on Aman Rao’s 48-ball 142.

With his bowlers stumped for answers, Tilak brought himself on and struck twice. Yet, his defining contribution was still to come.

Guiding his teammates

Faced with a towering target, Tilak, at No. 3, found himself in the middle in the second over. Through every partnership, however brief, Tilak remained in constant conversation with his inexperienced teammates. He pushed relentlessly for twos and threes, showing the urgency and intensity of a batter playing the most important knock of his career.

Tilak’s half-century arrived off just 22 balls and 20 deliveries later, he raised his bat for a hundred. The emotions burst through, along with his signature celebration, after he struck the winning run.

His enthusiasm was so infectious that the top five batters maintained a strike rate of over 150. Tilak himself went at a rate of 225 (136 n.o., 56b, 14x4, 8x6).

There was no time for more celebrations as Tilak left immediately after the game to catch a flight to Mumbai. He will then travel to Ireland for the two-match T20I series later this week.

For a player rated highly for his skill and commitment, Monday’s incredible effort was a reminder that leadership begins long before the toss and extends far beyond the scorecard.