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Indian team reportedly declined to accept the winner’s trophy from Pakistan minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi.
India’s emphatic five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday set off celebrations across the nation, with political leaders and public figures flooding social media with praise. The high-stakes match, played in Dubai on 28 September, saw India lift their ninth Asia Cup title after chasing down Pakistan’s modest total of 146 with two balls to spare.
While the win united political rivals in admiration, it also carried a touch of drama as the Indian team reportedly declined to accept the winner’s trophy from Pakistan minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, adding a diplomatic edge in sports.
‘Operation Tilak’
The phrase Operation Tilak quickly became the defining motif of the victory. Inspired by the match-winning innings of young batsman Tilak Varma, the term evoked the idea of a meticulously planned mission executed with military precision. Varma’s unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, decorated with three fours and four sixes, anchored India’s chase and earned him widespread acclaim.
Fans and commentators drew parallels with “Operation Sindoor,” from May 2025 India–Pakistan clash, to show India’s dominance on the cricket field against their fiercest rivals.
Political leaders applaud ‘Operation Tilak’
AAP MP Raghav Chadha was among the first to celebrate, posting on X, “Be it on the cricket field or the battlefield, India knows how to deliver. What a statement win – ‘Operation Tilak’ executed perfectly in the finals!”
Industrialist Harsh Goenka echoed the sentiment, writing, “This wasn’t just a match, it was Operation Tilak (after Operation Sindoor earlier) – India’s next mark of dominance on Pakistan.”
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari took a more political turn, declaring, “Operation Tilak after Operation Sindoor on the sports battlefield. India’s thrashing of Pakistan has silenced the Congress-Pak lobby that once cheered Pak’s provocation. For them, today is truly ‘Matam Ka Din’.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory tweet added further weight to the celebrations, prompting Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia to respond, “It was Operation Sindoor earlier and now it is Operation Tilak. It is a befitting reply to all the nonsense activities done by some people from a hostile country.”
Tharoor salutes coach Gambhir
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor chose to highlight the behind-the-scenes efforts that powered India’s triumph. “As we rejoice at the thrilling victory in the Asia Cup final last night, let us also pay tribute to the oft-maligned coach Gautam Gambhir and the selectors, who picked the perfect team for the tournament,” he posted. “They are always the first to be blamed when things go wrong, but let’s salute them for getting pretty much everything right this time!”
Social media memes
As soon as the winning runs were struck, social media platforms lit up with memes and slogans celebrating “Operation Tilak”. One jubilant fan told ANI, “Pehle humne Sindoor lagaya tha aur ab Tilak lagaya hai” (“First we applied Sindoor, and now we have applied Tilak”), blending cricket with cultural symbolism.
The BCCI announced a prize of Rs 21 crore for the unbeaten Indian side, with officials and supporters alike linking the victory to a larger narrative of national pride and resilience.
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The post‘Field Or Battlefield’: Harsh Goenka, Raghav Chadha Celebrate India’s ‘Op Tilak’ Against Pakistan | Cricket News appeared first on News18