Hyderabad’s stylish left-hander Tilak Varma combined composure with calculated aggression to script India’s five-wicket victory over Pakistan in a pulsating Asia Cup final held on Sunday, clinching the country’s ninth title. As India chased 147 runs, they found themselves in deep trouble at 20 for 3 within the first five overs. However, Tilak, unbeaten on a classy 69 off 53 balls, showcased remarkable resilience by building crucial partnerships, first with Sanju Samson (24) and later with Shivam Dube (33 off 21). Their efforts enabled India to reach the target in 19.4 overs, igniting a frenetic celebration among fans as Rinku Singh, playing his first game of the tournament, struck the winning boundary.
The match came down to a tense finish with 10 runs needed off the final over. Tilak launched Haris Rauf into the mid-wicket stands, setting up Rinku to seal the deal, which sparked wild joy among Indian supporters.
Earlier in the match, India’s decision to bowl first paid dividends as their spinners wreaked havoc. Despite a strong start from Pakistan, particularly through Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35), who added 84 runs for the first wicket, the innings collapsed dramatically. From a commanding position of 113 for 1, Pakistan fell apart, ending their innings at 146 in 19.1 overs. They lost their last nine wickets for just 33 runs.
- Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) emerged as the chief destroyer for India,
- supported ably by Axar Patel (2/26) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/30).
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) capped the innings by dismissing Rauf with a precise yorker, adding an ironic send-off that echoed Rauf’s earlier antics.
- Crucial turning points included Tilak’s 57-run partnership with Sanju Samson, which steadied the Indian innings after a shaky start.
- Furthermore, the 60-run collaboration with Dube shifted the momentum significantly in India’s favour.
- Haris Rauf’s 15th over, which cost 17 runs, broke Pakistan’s spirits and propelled India ahead.
Pakistan struggled against India’s disciplined bowling, which proved decisive during the latter half of their innings. The inability to adapt to India’s slower variations led to their downfall, further solidifying India’s tactical superiority.
- Brief Scores:
- Pakistan: 146 all out in 19.1 overs (Farhan 57, Zaman 46; Kuldeep 4/30).
- India: 150/5 in 19.4 overs (Tilak Varma 69*, Shivam Dube 33).
This victory underscores India’s dominance over Pakistan in white-ball cricket, highlighting their capacity to remain calm under pressure and demonstrating tactical brilliance throughout the match. With this win, India reaffirmed its status as a powerhouse in the cricketing world.
