Dubai [UAE], September 29 : Tilak Varma grew his catalogue of important knocks in knockout matches and successful T20I run chases with a well-paced, calculated half-century against Pakistan during the Asia Cup final at Dubai on Sunday.
During the final on Sunday, while chasing a modest 147, the initial spell by Faheem Ashraf left India at 20/3. Coming in at 10/2, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav inside the pavillion and vice-captain Shubman Gill following him shortly after, Tilak rebuilt the innings brick-by-brick, stitching half-century stands with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube and winning his side the title, with his knock of 69* in 53 balls, with three fours and four sixes.
In knockout matches for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League and for India, Tilak has scored 207 runs in five innings at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of over 160, with a half-century to his name.
Tilak has been absolutely sensational in successful T20I chases, scoring 370 runs in 11 innings at an average of 92.50, with a strike rate of 134.54, with three half-centuries.
The youngster has emerged one of the biggest positives from a mostly underperforming middle-order for India, scoring 213 runs in six innings at an average of 71.00, ending unbeaten thrice. His strike rate has been 131.48, and his solitary fifty came when it mattered the most, in the final. He is India's second-highest run-getter, next to Abhishek Sharma (314 runs in six innings with three fifties) and overall fourth.
Coming to the match, India won the toss and elected to field first. An 84-run stand between Sahidzada Farhan (57 in 38 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) and Fakhar Zaman (46 in 35 balls, with two fours and two sixes) gave Pakistan the headstart they needed. However, thanks to the magic of spinners Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/30) in the middle overs, Pakistan faced a collapse from 113/1 in 12.4 overs to 146 all out in 19.1 overs, with Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) also getting the final two wickets.
During the run-chase, India sank to 20/3 due to an initial burst from Faheem Ashraf (3/29). However, Tilak Varma (69* in 53 balls, with three fours and four sixes), stitched a 57-run stand with Sanju Samson (24 in 21 balls, with two fours and a six) to bring India back into the game.
Shivam Dube (33 in 22 balls, with two fours and two sixes) delivered some carnage with Tilak, solidifying India's hold on the game despite some occasional brilliance from Pakistan. In the end, it was Rinku Singh, who was featuring in his first Asia Cup match, who got the chance to hit the winning runs on the first ball.