Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Tilak Varma’s match-winning 69 innings* that guided India to a thrilling victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai. Chasing 147, India recovered from a precarious 20/3 to clinch the win with five wickets in hand and just two balls remaining.
Varma’s composed and mature innings under pressure earned high praise from Ashwin. “Tilak Varma absolutely stole the show. He showed he is made of veins of ice. Outstanding knock. India were in a very precarious situation. Thanks to Haris Rauf, we won the match easily,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, adding a subtle dig at the Pakistan pacer.
Ashwin highlighted Varma’s technical brilliance, noting his adaptability against both pace and spin. “He soaked up the pressure brilliantly. He played spin really well, executed sweeps, and hit down the ground. He read the conditions perfectly—on a wicket with tricky bounce, he played square off the wicket. People think hitting that six off Rauf is easy, but it’s far from it,” Ashwin explained.
The match also showcased India’s spin dominance, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy restricting Pakistan after a strong start. Ashwin praised their contributions: “Kuldeep and Varun made a next-level comeback. Pakistan’s openers gave them a superb start, but India’s spinners executed under pressure. Teams in Asia, like Pakistan, are very good against spin, but pressure matters in big matches, and our players handled it well.”
Kuldeep Yadav was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in seven matches at an average of 9.29. Ashwin elaborated on why Kuldeep was so effective in Dubai’s conditions: “The ball sits down and becomes lumpy with extra bounce in Dubai, unlike in IPL conditions. Shots that might go for six elsewhere take edges here. For example, Saim Ayub’s attempted cut led to a top edge and a catch at point. That’s the difference these conditions make.”
India’s triumph under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy highlighted their depth in both batting and spin bowling. Young talents like Tilak Varma stepped up in crucial moments, while experienced bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav delivered consistent performances, proving India’s dominance in the tournament.
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