Yesterday, Dubai International Stadium witnessed history being made. With India defeating Pakistan and emerging as the undefeated Champions of the Asia Cup 2025, it was a moment where every Indian’s chest swelled with pride. However, during the second innings, India’s fans were almost seen clutching their hearts when the opening lineup came crashing down with Pakistan’s aggressive bowling. That’s when Tilak Varma, the star boy scouted by the Mumbai Indians, came to the rescue. At the mere age of 22, Varma calmly took the responsibility of the situation and promised a win to the audience and his team with a staggering performance of 69 (53). The Mumbai Indians Starboy has shown his versatility as and when the team demands it. With the team under pressure, Varma is often seen taking it on his shoulders to give a steady score and drag his team to the winning point with his sweep shots.
In yesterday's thriller, his fearless approach was taken into note by the experts, where Sunil Gavaskar was quick to praise Tilak, remarking how he treated Shaheen like a netball spinner, a statement both blunt and celebratory of the young batter's temperament. The experts highlighted how Tilak’s knock is not usually about flashy strokes but more about understanding the match situations. And that’s exactly what he did in yesterday's India vs. Pakistan match, guiding India to their ninth Asia Cup title by being the absolute nightmare for the bowlers of Pakistan.
Looking ahead, Varma’s career graph looks promising, just like his knocks. Beyond the national duties, Varma signed a contract with Hampshire; his stint already made him a favorite of the county team. With impressive scores of 100, 56, 47, and 112, Tilak has proved his adaptability even in the foreign conditions. On the domestic side, Tilak is assigned the responsibility of captaining the south zone for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, a recognition of both his form and leadership.
Moreover, Tilak is also trusted with the responsibility of vice captaincy duties alongside senior players like Shreyas Iyer for India A in the one-day series against Australia A. Varma taking over such responsibilities shows the growing confidence among the selectors about Varma’s abilities in addition to his consistent performance.
The big question now is how India includes Varma in their long-term plans. With his temperament, it is clear he can thrive not just in T20Is and ODIs but also in the testing formats like Test Cricket, particularly after his performance and exposure to English conditions. Post Rohit-Kohli era, when it comes to delivering under pressure in the middle order, Tilak's name stands out unmistakably.
From travelling 40 km per day to practice in the nets of Hyderabad to creating havoc in the bowling lineup of Pakistan, Tilak Varma has certainly come a long way. His contribution to the Asia Cup shows his poise and maturity, assuring the Indian fans that the future of Indian cricket lies in safe hands.