India’s Asia Cup 2025 hero Tilak Varma described winning the title as the "best reply" to an aggressive opposition. The middle-order batter scored a match-winning unbeaten 69 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai last Sunday, guiding India to a five-wicket win in the title clash.
"I placed my country ahead of everything else," he told mediapersons in Hyderabad, upon his return from Dubai. "I knew that giving in to pressure would let down myself and the 1.4 billion people of our country." Varma said he relied on the fundamental skills taught by his coaches, believing that "the best reply was to win the match, and that's exactly what we did".
He confirmed that Pakistan players engaged in intense sledging during the match but he chose to remain silent while chasing the target of 147. "They came at us hard, especially after a tough start where we lost three quick wickets," he said. "Things became heated. I came to bat earlier than expected, but I focused on not reacting or playing a risky shot, which would have let down the team and country."
The 22-year-old said that he saved his responses for the Pakistan players until after India had successfully reached the target. "During the match, my focus was purely on my basics; I wasn't ready to engage with them," he shared. "I told them everything I wanted to say after the match, not while the game was in progress." He admitted that several incidents occurred during the intense India-Pakistan match, calling them "part of the game", but reiterated that their primary focus remained on winning.
With 10 runs needed off the final over, bowled by pacer Haris Rauf, Varma felt he had already overcome the earlier pressure. "I was calm under pressure in that last over," he recalled. "I knew we would win. I focused on my country and concentrated on one ball at a time. I trusted myself to perform for India, and I am very proud of that moment."
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He described this Asia Cup innings as one of the finest in his young career. "I would rate this as one of my best innings," he said, comparing it to an unbeaten 72 he scored against England in Chennai, which also secured a two-wicket victory for India. He said that playing under pressure against Pakistan in the Asia Cup was an "incredible feeling", even surpassing his two centuries in terms of personal satisfaction.
Varma credited India's victory to strong partnerships formed on a challenging pitch. While agreeing with "Surya bhai's" (Suryakumar Yadav's) sentiment of "no rivalry", he acknowledged that in sports, they expected Pakistan to be fully prepared for the final. "We anticipated their strategy, especially when they took pace off the ball on a difficult pitch," he noted. "Forming crucial partnerships allowed us to win, and we are proud of that."
Following his successful chase, he was compared to Virat Kohli, often called the 'chase master'. However, Varma remained humble. "It's a matter of great pride to be mentioned alongside a legend like Virat bhai," he said. "But my sole focus is on winning matches for my country."
Looking ahead, Tilak has now set his sights on next year's T20 World Cup. "I'm happy to have helped India win the Asia Cup," he said, recalling he began cricket after the 2011 World Cup. "The T20 World Cup is my ultimate goal. I won't truly rest until I win that World Cup."
