But Tilak Varma, who turned an old Rohit Sharma prediction into a reality with a game-winning innings, will be remembered for the night.
In a thrilling final that went down to the final over, India defeated bitter rivals Pakistan by five wickets to win their seventh Asia Cup trophy in Dubai on Sunday.
In an interview back in 2023, Rohit Sharma, who is renowned for seeing young talent early, praised Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera and said they would have a big effect on the national squad in two years. Tilak’s game-winning innings against Pakistan made Rohit’s forecast, which reappeared on social media following the final, go viral.
“It is going to be the same story with what has happened with Bumrah, Hardik, and all these guys. Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera… you watch the next two years. But then people will say ‘it is a superstar team’. Yes, it is, we are making them here. These two guys are going to be huge stars for us and for India,” Rohit said in a conversation with JioCinema.
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India’s chase is anchored by Tilak.
Pakistan was asked to bat first when the game started. Fakhar Zaman (46) and Sahibzada Farhan (57) put on an opening partnership of 84 runs. Pakistan was headed for a 180-plus total at 113/1 in the 13th over, but the team collapsed spectacularly. Kuldeep Yadav and other Indian spinners destroyed Pakistan’s middle order.
Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah each contributed two wickets, while Kuldeep, who had been costly early on, recovered with four wickets, including three in a single over. After losing nine wickets for only 33 runs, the Men in Green were eventually bowled out for 146.
India’s start to chasing 147 was awful. Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav all fell easily, giving Pakistan the early lead. A vital 57-run partnership was then stitched by Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, who played a calm hand before falling to Abrar Ahmed.
But Tilak anchored the chase and held one end. The team remained in the hunt thanks to his undefeated 69 off 53 balls. Shivam Dube (33 off 22) provided him with support, and the two made another significant stand that turned the tide back in India’s favour. The southpaw completed the task by himself, even when wickets dropped. He nearly sealed the deal with a six off Haris Rauf with 10 needed off the last over, but Rinku Singh hit the winning runs.
India
