Tilak Varma records second-highest score in T20 Asia Cup finals
What's the story
India won the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup title after defeating Pakistan in a thrilling final in Dubai. The Men in Blue successfully chased down 147 despite facing a top-order collapse. Tilak Varma powered India to a formidable win in the final over. He hammered an incredible half-century after India were down to 20/3. The left-handed batter stitched crucial stands with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube to seal India's win.
Chase masterclass
Tilak stars in India's patchy run-chase
India's chase got off to a rocky start, with Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill falling early. However, Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson steadied the ship with a 57-run partnership. Samson's dismissal left India reeling at 77/4, but Tilak held his ground and partnered with Shivam Dube to take India closer to the target. With India needing 36 runs off the last four overs, Tilak and Dube targeted the right bowlers.
Score
Tilak enters record books
While Dube departed toward the end, Tilak showed his calmness. He hammered a 53-ball 69* (3 fours and 4 sixes). As per ESPNcricinfo, Tilak recorded the second-highest individual score in the Men's T20 Asia Cup finals. He is only behind Sri Lanka's Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who slammed a match-winning 71* in the 2022 final against Pakistan. Notably, Tilak's 4 sixes are the most by a batter in a T20 Asia Cup final.
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Tilak in successful T20I run-chases
Since making his debut in 2023, Tilak has been India's go-to man in successful T20I run-chases. In 11 such innings, the left-handed batter has scored 370 runs at an average of 92.50. His strike rate in this regard reads 134.54 (50s: 3).
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Tilak closing in on 1,000 runs
In 32 T20Is (30 innings), Tilak has racked up 962 runs at a remarkable average of 53.44. He has a staggering strike rate of 149.14 in the format. His tally includes two tons and four half-centuries.