Tilak Varma Hails Asia Cup Final Knock Against Pakistan as His Most Satisfying

Rising Indian cricketer Tilak Varma has described his match-winning unbeaten 69 runs in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan as the most satisfying innings of his career so far. Despite earlier achieving two T20I centuries, Tilak said this knock in Dubai was special because of the intense pressure of playing arch-rivals in a tournament decider.

Speaking about the memorable night, Tilak said, “This is because we were playing Pakistan in the final, and the pressure was immense. I just backed myself, tried to stay calm, and believed in finishing the game.” He credited his coaches Salaam Bayash and Prithvi Anna of Legala Cricket Academy, his parents, and the Hyderabad Cricket Association for shaping his cricketing journey.

Tilak highlighted the final over, where India required 10 runs, saying he was thinking only about the country. He praised Sanju Samson’s cameo and Shivam Dube’s vital contribution, calling teamwork the cornerstone of the victory. Acknowledging comparisons with Virat Kohli’s famous performances against Pakistan, he said, “I feel proud. Virat bhai is a legend and a huge inspiration. I am just happy to bring joy to Indians.”

He also revealed that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav advised the team to stay calm despite Pakistan’s aggressive play. Reflecting on the rivalry, Tilak noted that India’s world-class bowling attack gave confidence, even when Pakistan had a strong start.

Ending on an emotional note, Tilak said: “Hamarey liye desh humesha aage hai. Desh ke liye hum jaan bhi detey hain.” (For us, the country always comes first. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for it). His words reflected both his patriotism and his maturity beyond his years.