Tilak Varma, the hero of the Asia Cup final, revealed that the best way to counter the taunts and aggressive demeanor from Pakistani players was by winning the title. By overcoming the initial pressure with composure, he led the team to victory.
With Tilak's unbeaten 69 runs, India triumphed over Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final held in Dubai on Sunday. Back in Dubai, Tilak expressed, 'There was some pressure and tension initially, but I placed my country first. Winning was my sole focus. Bowing to pressure would have let down not only myself but all 1.4 billion Indians.'
He further shared, 'I trusted my fundamentals, the same ones my coaches instilled in me. That was the smartest approach, and by winning the Asia Cup, we responded adequately.'
Tilak admitted that the Pakistani players engaged in plenty of sledging during the match, but he chose silence as his defense. He recounted, 'We lost three wickets early, and the atmosphere heated up. I began batting early but didn't engage in any backtalk or risky shots that could have let down the team or the country.'
He mentioned that the response to Pakistani players came only after India's victory. His focus remained on the basics. He stated what needed to be said after the match. India-Pakistan matches always unfold with drama, but their aim was solely to win.
In closing, Tilak remarked that when 10 runs were needed in the final over, he conquered the pressure completely. 'I felt no pressure in the last over. My thoughts were solely on my country, strategizing ball by ball. I'm proud of accomplishing that.'
