Tilak Varma delivered a match-winning performance in the Asia Cup final, smashing an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls to guide India to victory over Pakistan in Dubai. His calculated knock, featuring three fours and four sixes, turned the tide in a tense chase of 147, securing the title for India on Sunday.
India got off to a rocky start in the run chase, slumping to 20/3 after a fiery spell from Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf, who took 3/29. With captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill back in the pavilion early, Tilak stepped in at No. 4 and rebuilt the innings with smart partnerships. He first added 57 runs with Sanju Samson (24 off 21, including two fours and a six), steadying the ship.
Then, Tilak teamed up with Shivam Dube (33 off 22, with two fours and two sixes) for another crucial stand, pushing India closer to the target. The duo’s aggressive batting kept Pakistan at bay, even as the bowlers fought back. In the end, Rinku Singh, making his Asia Cup debut, sealed the win with a boundary on the first ball of the final over.
This wasn’t just any knock for the young left-hander. Tilak has a knack for big moments, especially in knockout cricket. For Mumbai Indians in the IPL and India internationally, he’s racked up 207 runs in five knockout innings at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate above 160, including one half-century.
In successful T20I chases, Tilak shines even brighter. He’s scored 370 runs in 11 innings at an average of 92.50 and a strike rate of 134.54, with three fifties to his name. This Asia Cup has highlighted him as a standout in India’s middle order, which has struggled overall. In six innings, he’s notched 213 runs at 71.00 average and 131.48 strike rate, staying unbeaten three times. He’s now India’s second-top scorer in the tournament with 213 runs, behind Abhishek Sharma’s 314, and fourth overall.
Earlier, India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first. Pakistan raced to 84/1 thanks to an opening stand between Saim Ayub (wait, original says Sahidzada Farhan—assuming it’s Saim Ayub or correct name, but sticking to text: Sahidzada Farhan’s 57 off 38 with four fours and three sixes) and Fakhar Zaman’s 46 off 35 (two fours, two sixes). But India’s spinners turned the game: Kuldeep Yadav claimed 4/30, Varun Chakravarthy took 2/30 in the middle overs, collapsing Pakistan from 113/1 to 146 all out in 19.1 overs. Jasprit Bumrah wrapped it up with 2/25, grabbing the last two wickets.
Tilak’s heroics in this India vs Pakistan thriller have cemented his rise as a key T20I player, and fans are already buzzing about his future in high-stakes cricket matches.
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