Tilak Varma revealed that his main goal was to “stay at the wicket and finish the game” after playing a match-winning knock in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. His unbeaten 69 off 53 balls helped India secure a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai.

Chasing 147, India struggled early as they slipped to 20 for 3, with top-order batters falling cheaply on a tricky two-paced pitch. Despite the pressure, Tilak remained composed and anchored the innings.

“It was pressure. They were bowling well. They were mixing the pace up. I was breathing and trying to stay calm. Fantastic knock from Samson. The way Dube batted under pressure was helpful and important for the country,” Tilak said after receiving the Player of the Final award.

Key Partnerships Save India

Tilak’s partnerships were crucial to India’s win. He first added 57 runs with Sanju Samson (24) before building a 60-run stand with Shivam Dube (33). These partnerships revived India’s chase after a shaky start.

The left-hander struck three boundaries and four sixes, including a massive hit off Haris Rauf in the final over. Importantly, he stayed till the end, ensuring there were no late twists in the contest.

Reflecting on his innings, Tilak said,
“We have prepared for every position. You should be flexible. I was prepared to bat at any position. I was backing my game. When the wickets are on the slower side, I have talked to Gauti sir and have worked hard. One of the most special knocks of my life. This is for all the Indians.”

Abhishek Sharma Named Player of the Tournament

India’s young opener Abhishek Sharma had been in superb form throughout the tournament, scoring three consecutive fifties before the final. However, his night ended early as he was dismissed for 5 off 6 balls by Faheem Ashraf in the second over.

Despite the low score in the final, Abhishek’s overall performance stood out. He finished as the only batter to cross 300 runs, amassing 314 runs at an average of 44.85 and a strike rate of 200. His remarkable form earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

He beat Kuldeep Yadav, who topped the bowling charts with 17 wickets at an average of 9.29 and an economy rate of 6.27.

Speaking after India’s win, Abhishek shared insights about his approach, “I mean, of course, getting into this team after winning the World Cup, it wasn’t easy for any opener. But if you see, we had a plan that we want to play a game, you know, that we have to show intent from the first ball. So that was my plan, I worked really hard on that.”

He added,
“So obviously, my plan was pretty much clear that, you know, if I do well, if I get that impact, and it’s for my team, my team should win. Of course, I mean, if you want to play something like this, sometimes you will fail, but you have to keep the process going.”

Explaining his aggressive mindset, Abhishek said, “I mean, if you see that I had a plan, if I get spinners or pacers in the powerplay, I’m going to utilize that powerplay. Because if you see any bowler, even a fast bowler, any of the premium fast bowlers as well, I want to go from the first ball, no matter who’s the bowler.”

India Strengthen Their Asia Cup Legacy

With this win, India completed a hat-trick of victories over Pakistan in the tournament. This triumph also marked their ninth Asia Cup title overall and second T20 title in three editions, having previously won the inaugural T20 version in 2016.

This latest victory further reinforced India’s dominance in Asian cricket, showcasing their depth and ability to perform under pressure on the biggest stage.