In a gripping final of the Asia Cup held on Sunday, Hyderabad’s elegant batsman TIlak Varma showcased a perfect blend of composure and calculated aggression to steer India to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan. This win marked India’s ninth Asia Cup title.
Chasing a target of 147, India faced early setbacks, stumbling to 20 for 3 within the first five overs. However, Tilak, who remained unbeaten on a stylish 69 off 53 balls, initiated a recovery with significant partnerships with Sanju Samson (24 runs) and Shivam Dube (33 runs off 21 balls). Their combined efforts propelled India to reach the target in just 19.4 overs.
The climax arrived with India needing 10 runs from the final over. Tilak hit Haris Rauf into the mid-wicket stands, setting the stage for Rinku Singh, who played his first match of the tournament, to hit the winning boundary amidst jubilant celebrations from Indian fans.
India’s decision to bowl first paid dividends as their spinners excelled against Pakistan’s batting lineup. Pakistan initially began strongly, with Sahibzada Farhan (57 runs off 38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (46 runs off 35 balls) building a partnership of 84 runs.
However, after reaching 113 for 1, Pakistan experienced a dramatic collapse, being bowled out for 146 in just 19.1 overs, with the last nine wickets tumbling for a mere 33 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the chief architect of Pakistan’s downfall, taking 4 wickets for 30 runs. He received solid support from Axar Patel (2/26) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/30). Jasprit Bumrah joined the party by wrapping up the innings effectively with impressive bowling.
The game had several turning points. Notably, Tilak’s pivotal stand of 57 runs with Samson stabilized India’s innings after a shaky start. Equally significant was the 60-run partnership with Dube, which shifted the game strategically in India’s favor.
Pakistan’s woes deepened as Haris Rauf’s 15th over cost 17 runs, proving detrimental to their momentum.
Despite a promising beginning, Pakistan could not counter India’s astute spin variations and disciplined bowling strategies, ultimately costing them the match.
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).
With this triumph, India reaffirmed their dominance in white-ball cricket against Pakistan, demonstrating resilience under pressure and tactical superiority.
