Middle-order batsman Tilak Varma claimed that winning the Asia Cup was the “best reply” to an aggressive opposition, disclosing that he had successfully navigated an initial barrage of pressure and verbal volleys from Pakistani players before hitting the game-winning half-century in the championship match.
Last Sunday, Tilak led India to a five-wicket victory against their bitter rivals in Dubai with an unbeaten 69.
“There was some pressure and nerves initially. But I have placed my country ahead of everything else and I wanted to win the match for the country. I knew If I succumbed to the pressure at that time I would be letting down myself and 140 crore people of the country,” Tilak said after his arrival in Hyderabad from Dubai Monday night.
“I believed in the basics that I learned as a young cricketer from my coaches and executed it. The best reply to them was to win the match and that’s what we did,” he added.
Although Tilak acknowledged that the Pakistani players engaged in some severe sledging throughout the game, he chose to remain silent while the 147-run chase was underway.
“We lost three wickets quickly and things were a bit heated up then. I came to bat a bit earlier than normal. But I did not say anything or play a rash shot to let the team and country down,” he said.
However, the Hyderabadi revealed that he let Pakistan players know exactly what he thought once India chased down the target.
“During the match, I was just focusing on my basics, I was not ready to answer them. Whatever I want to tell them I told them after the match and not when the game was going on.
“There were a lot of things happening in the middle but I can’t reveal all of them. Those things happen in India vs Pakistan matches and they are part of the game. But our focus was on winning the match,” he said.
Tilak claimed he was able to handle the pressure by the time India needed to score 10 runs off the final over, which was bowled by pacer Haris Rauf.
“I was not under pressure (in the last over). I knew that I will win the game. I was just thinking about my country and was focussing on one ball at a time. I backed myself to deliver for the country and I am so proud of it,” he added.
According to Tilak, India won the game because they were able to build partnerships on a wicket that was difficult to bat on.
“I agree with Surya bhai’s statement of ‘no rivalry’ but this is sports and we knew that they will come prepared for the final.
“We were expecting that and we were prepared when they took the pace off the ball and the pitch was also not easy to bat on. We made some good partnerships and won the match and are proud of that,” he noted.
