India batter Tilak Varma reflected on his heroics in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan, saying he had to remain calm under immense pressure during the tense chase, constantly reminding himself that he was batting not just for himself but for 140 crore Indians.
The young left-hander, who returned to Hyderabad on Monday, was greeted with a rousing reception at Shamshabad Airport before being felicitated by Telangana Sports Authority Chairman Shivsena Reddy and Managing Director Soni Bala Devi.
“There was a lot of pressure and nerves in my body. A lot was going on in my mind. In my mind and heart, I thought that whatever I do, I will give my life for the country. If I am under pressure and fail, I am not just bringing myself down; I am bringing down 140 crore people. To do that, I had to stay calm. I have learnt the basics from my childhood, and I have had this habit since I was a kid, to be calm and execute everything in my mind,” Tilak told reporters on Tuesday.
In the summit clash, India’s top order crumbled early as Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and captain Suryakumar Yadav fell inside the powerplay, leaving the team in deep trouble. But Tilak stood firm, producing a calm and composed unbeaten 69 that guided India to a five-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan and a record-extending ninth Asia Cup crown.
Recalling those tense moments, Tilak admitted the situation was far from easy.
“In the first three wickets, there was a lot of pressure. After that, it started getting harder. At that time, I was batting and there was a lot of pressure on me. If I had hit another wrong shot, I would have brought my country down. So I told myself, I have to be calm, follow the basics, and not give answers in the middle of the match,” he said.
He also credited partnerships as the key to India’s fightback. “The wicket was not that easy for batting. As soon as we came back, we won the game by building a partnership. That is the quality of India,” he said, pointing to his crucial stand with Shivam Dube.
In the intense atmosphere of an India–Pakistan encounter, Tilak revealed how heated exchanges are part of the contest. “Pakistan always tries to distract the players. A lot of things happened when I was batting, but I can’t tell you on camera. It happens in India-Pakistan matches; we say a lot of things in the middle of the game. But the real answer is when you win the match. That’s what I had to do, and I did it.”
Before signing off, Tilak acknowledged the influence of his long-time coaches and family on his journey. “At this stage, everyone remembers me as Tilak Varma. But when Tilak Varma was not there, Salam sir and Prithvi sir were behind me. They worked very hard with me. All credit goes to my mother, father, and my coaches.”