Indian batter Tilak Varma has recalled his heroic knock in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan. Chasing 147 runs for the win, India found themselves in trouble at 20-3. However, Varma was able to steady the ship and went on to play a match-winning knock of 69 runs off just 53 balls with the help of three fours and four sixes.

The left-hander showed great maturity in his game and handled the pressure with guile in the summit clash. The southpaw admitted he was nervous before he walked out to bat against the arch-rivals.

“I was sweating even before I entered to bat. India had won both games against Pakistan before that; everyone was expecting India to win easily again, but it’s Dubai, it’s the final, it’s against Pakistan. They had such a good bowling attack, and all I was thinking was: we can’t lose this game,” Tilak told GQ India in a candid chat.

The young batter said the experience of playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League came good for him.

“I’ve done this since I was a child, I’ve done this for the Mumbai Indians, I’ve made a name for myself playing under pressure,” he says matter-of-factly, each word as precise as the shots that flow from his bat when he’s on song. “I kept telling myself, I will do it; whatever happens, I will win the game for the country. I was just listening to my heart, not my mind. There was so much going on in my head, but I was just breathing. I looked at the India logo on my jersey and what it means to me. I also knew that God was with me. So yeah, everything went well,” he said.

India will next take on Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Thursday.