Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has predicted that Tilak Varma will lead an IPL franchise within the next two years after MI clinched a thumping 99-run win against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Monday.

Varma, who had failed to bring his best in the first five games, scored a stunning knock of 101 runs off just 45 balls, equaling Sanath Jayasuriya’s record of fastest hundred for MI in the IPL.

The left-hander scored eight fours and seven sixes in his blistering knock as he scored at a strike rate of 224.44. Thus, Varma played an instrumental role in helping MI post 199 runs on the board and was awarded Player of the Match.

Meanwhile, GT was bowled out for 100 runs, so they could not even match Tilak Varma’s individual score.

“Tilak Varma defeated the Gujarat Titans by one run. He scored 101 and the entire Gujarat team collapsed for 100. I feel the day is not far when he will captain an IPL franchise,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“You might wonder how someone can become the captain by playing one inning, but two years from now, and it might happen earlier than that, Tilak Varma will be leading an IPL franchise. That is my understanding. I can explain it more at that time,” he added.

Chopra highlighted how Varma changed gears after getting off to a sedate start against GT.

“He scored 19 runs in the first 22 balls he played. He was playing at a run-a-ball and struggling a lot. Suryakumar Yadav, Quinton de Kock, and the debutant (Danish Malewar) had gotten out. So the situation was bad. It seemed like they were gone when Naman Dhir got out, and that nothing was going to happen,” he observed.

‘However, there was a strategic time-out. After that, he scored 82 runs in the next 23 balls. He went at a strike rate of 350. He hit the joint-fastest century for the Mumbai Indians – Sanath Jayasuriya in 2008 and Tilak Varma in 2026,” Chopra noted.

Mumbai Indians will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.