India, April 21 -- Tilak Varma's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) century for Mumbai Indian last evening against Gujarat Titans can be broken down into two halves. He was 19 off 22 at one stage before an animated exchange by his partner Hardik Pandya sparked a revival for the ages. It seemed to have lit a fuse in Tilak's brain as he went on to plunder 82 off the next 23 deliveries he faced. Hardik's chat, which appeared fierce, motivating and no-holds-barred, worked in the best way imaginable as Tilak finished with 101 not out off 45 deliveries, including eight fours and seven sixes, allowing MI to post 199/5 and pick up their first win against the Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

After the match, which saw MI bowle...