Tilak Varma brought his A game to the field as India defeated Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 tournament. The match was played in Dubai on September 28, and India became the 9-time champions of the Asia Cup.

India opted to field first in the Asia Cup 2025 final, restricting Pakistan to 146 after Sahibzada Farhan’s 57 and Fakhar Zaman’s 46. Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/30, backed by Bumrah, Varun, and Axar with two each, triggered a collapse from 113/1.

India slipped to 20/3 before Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube steadied the chase.
Tilak’s unbeaten 69 and Rinku Singh’s winning shot sealed India’s five-wicket victory.

Tilak held up one end as pressure began piling up on the No. 1-ranked T20I team, but he kept his cool and kept eking out boundaries when it was needed the most. Tilak has gradually and steadily solidified his spot in India's T20I lineup; nevertheless, there was a new dimension to his batting against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium, as he remained unconcerned with the verbal volleys launched at him by wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris.

Tilak was biding his time in the sixth over of India's chase, which was bowled by Faheem Ashraf, as he attempted to help India get through a difficult phase.

On 20/3, India couldn't afford to lose another wicket, which Tilak and Sanju Samson assured. Haris began chirping from behind, mocking the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Tilak's franchise, the Mumbai Indians.

"Yeh, Mumbai nahi hai. Yeh, IPL nahi hai. (This is not Mumbai, and this is not the IPL)," said Haris from behind the stumps.  

Tilak didn't respond to the sledge. He had chosen to let his bat speak for itself, and boy, oh boy, did it ever. When Tilak secured India's triumph, the left-hander began sprinting to all parts of the field and was embraced by the entire winning team.

Tilak's 53-ball hit had three fours and four sixes. With India requiring 10 runs from the last over, Tilak smashed a six off Haris Rauf's third delivery, reducing the equation to two runs off four balls. Rinku Singh then scored a boundary off Rauf to win the match.

Tilak Varma was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 69*.