Sat Jan 03 07:40:00 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:

Tilak Varma Stakes Claim for India’s ODI Squad with Century Knock

Rajkot, India – January 3, 2026 – Young batsman Tilak Varma has made a strong statement ahead of upcoming ODI team selections, smashing a brilliant century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Varma’s innings of 109 runs off 118 balls, including six fours and three sixes, propelled Hyderabad to a competitive total of 286 against Chandigarh.

Hyderabad faced an early setback, losing two wickets with only 39 runs on the board. However, Varma, coming in at number three, steadied the ship with a composed and powerful innings. He was well-supported by Abhirath Reddy, who contributed a valuable 71 off 64 balls.

This century marks Varma’s sixth in List-A cricket and comes at a crucial time as he aims to cement his place in the national ODI squad. Varma debuted for India in ODIs against Bangladesh in 2023 but has only featured in five matches since, scoring 68 runs.

While he has established himself in the T20I setup, with 1,183 runs in 40 matches, his ODI spot remains uncertain. Varma’s consistent performances in List-A cricket, where he now boasts 1,724 runs in 45 matches, are a clear signal of his ambition to contribute to the Indian ODI team. Selectors will undoubtedly be taking notice of his recent form.

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