Tilak Varma Drops Bombshell, Reveals Diagnosis With Rhabdomyolysis: All About Life-Threatening Muscle Disorder

India cricketer Tilak Varma dropped a bombshell and revealed that he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous muscle injury, during his maiden IPL in 2022. Tilak is one of the prominent names in Indian cricket today, especially in T20Is. During the Asia Cup final, he saved India from epic embarrassment and played an unbeaten 69-run knock to help the Men in Blue win the Asia Cup.

But his career could have been in jeopardy if the BCCI and Mumbai Indians hadn't helped him during the tough phase after his diagnosis. Tilak was all praise for the franchise and Jay Shah, whose support ensured that a talent like Tilak Varma does not go wasted.


"First IPL ke baad mera health ka thoda problem aaya tha. Mujhe fit banna tha, aur yeh baatein bahaar aayi nahin hai. Mujhe rhabdomyolysis hua, ek aisi condition jisme muscles break down ho jaate hain. Us waqt main Test team mein aana chahta tha, domestic cricket khel raha tha, India A series khel raha tha, camps chal rahe the, aur rest days mein bhi gym ja raha tha. World Cup mein fittest player banna tha, field mein fast rehna tha, isliye proper recovery ka dhyaan nahin de raha tha. Ice baths le raha tha, so raha tha, par body phir bhi recover nahin ho rahi thi; proper rest ki zarurat thi," Tilak Varma told Gaurav Kapur on Breakfast With Champions.


After the first IPL, I faced some health issues and needed to get fit, and these things haven’t come out publicly. I had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscles break down. At that time, I wanted to get into the Test team, was playing domestic cricket and the India A series, attending camps, and even on rest days I was going to the gym. I wanted to be the fittest player in the World Cup and be fast on the field, so I wasn’t paying enough attention to proper recovery. I was taking ice baths and sleeping, but my body still wasn’t recovering; it needed proper rest.


"Rest day mein bhi push kar raha tha. Toh muscle overstrain hoke, muscle breakdown ho gaya. Usme nerves sab ekdum hard ho gaya. Usme Mumbai Indians mere saath mein tha, India A ka series Bangladesh mein khel raha tha. 100 ball tak push kiya, phir aankhon mein se paani aa raha hai. Bat bhi nahin move ho pa raha tha, fingers move nahin hua, sab cheez hard ho gaya. Retire hurt ho gaya, gloves kaatna pada because fingers move nahin kar paa raha tha. Akash bhai they, BCCI se baat kiya, unhone bhi bahut help kiya, thanks to Jay Shah sir, COE. Hospital mein gaya, bole tu aur thoda delay hota na, kuch bhi ho sakta tha," he added.


I was pushing myself even on rest days. So, the muscle was overstrained and it broke down. The nerves went quite hard. Mumbai Indians was there with me and I was playing the A series in Bangladesh. I pushed myself for 100 balls but the fingers weren't at all moving. Everything became so hard. I had to retire hurt, gloves had to be cut off because fingers weren't moving. Akash bhai was there, he spoke to the BCCI, who also helped a lot. Thanks a lot, to Jay Shah sir and COE. I went to the hospital, and they told me even if you delayed a but, the consequences could have been catastrophic.


What Is Rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis is a serious medical condition and can cause complications such as kidney damage, electrolyte imbalance, and in extreme cases, organ failure. In these disease, the muscle tissue breaks down rapidly and releases proteins and electrolytes like myoglobin into the bloodstream. Early diagnosis and proper treatment remain key. It occurs mainly due to intense physical activity, trauma, or certain medications.


When Will Tilak Varma Return To Action?
Meanwhile, Tilak will be seen in action during the five-match T20I series against Australia. Tilak has almost cemented a berth in India's T20 World Cup squad, but he needs consistent performances to hold onto the slot amidst stiff challenge.