Asia Cup Final POTM Tilak Varma Credits Gambhir, Says, ‘This Is For All Indians’ | Cricket News

Tilak Varma, the Player of the Match from the 2025 Asia Cup final, credited Gautam Gambhir for valuable lessons on how to bat on slow pitches and hailed his partners, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, for their important contributions in India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Tilak was the genuine man of the moment for India. He began his knock when India had lost three wickets in the power play for around 20 runs in the chase of 147. He and Samson hit the first fifty-plus partnership and then, when the latter got out, Tilak kept the innings going, with Dube smashing 33 off 22 balls.

Dube got out on the last ball of the 19th over, leaving 10 to win off the final six balls. Tilak hit nine runs on the first three balls, including a massive six, and Rinku Singh finished it off with a boundary.

“There was a bit of pressure, but I wanted to stay on the wicket and finish the game,” he said. “They were bowling well and mixing up the pace, but I wanted to finish the game for my country. I was breathing up and trying to stay calm. It was a fantastic knock by Samson; the way Dubey batted was very important for the country. We were prepared for every position,” Tilak added.

He had shifted all around the batting order throughout the tournament, but the situation for the final was perfect for his favorite position, number three, even though he came below that.

“Gautam bhai said that we should be flexible for every position in order,” Tilak said. “When the wickets are on the slower side, I have talked to Gauti sir and have worked hard on sweep shots and running between the wickets. It was really special. One of the most special knocks of my life. This is for all the Indians. I can only say Chak de India,” he added.

Tilak was only one of the three Indians to take a prize from the presentation ceremony, alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Abhishek Sharma, as the team decided to refuse taking the trophy.