Tilak Varma has quietly become one of India’s biggest big-match players. For the second time, India faced Pakistan in a high-pressure final, found themselves in a difficult situation, and Tilak produced an unbeaten innings that ultimately made the difference.
The first came in the 2025 Asia Cup final. Now, in the Asian Games 2026 gold-medal match, Tilak has done it again.
His two innings were completely different. One required patience and composure during a difficult chase. The other demanded explosive hitting on a slow surface. But the result was the same: Tilak remained unbeaten and India defeated Pakistan.
Tilak Varma Changes the Asian Games Final
Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start in the Asian Games final, smashing 61 off just 28 balls. However, Pakistan managed to pull India back after that explosive beginning.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 15 off nine balls, while Sanju Samson managed only 2 off four. Ishan Kishan made 20 off 18 and captain Shreyas Iyer scored 21 off 24 balls.
At 153/5, India had lost much of the momentum created by Abhishek. A total well beyond 200 had looked possible earlier, but Pakistan had dragged themselves back into the contest.
Then Tilak took control.
The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 51 from only 22 ballshitting three fours and four sixes. His strike rate of 231.81 was the highest among India’s main batters in the innings.
Shivam Dube also played an important cameo of 27 from 15 balls, while Tilak provided the acceleration India desperately needed at the other end.
India eventually reached 211/6.
At first, that looked like a huge total. By the end of Pakistan’s chase, however, the importance of Tilak’s innings became much clearer.
Pakistan reached 192/6losing by only 19 runs. Hasan Nawaz kept them alive with a superb 96 from 51 balls.
That is where Tilak’s contribution stands out.
Had he played at the same pace as some of India’s other middle-order batters, India could have finished well below 200. Even a respectable 35 from his 22 deliveries would have left India with significantly fewer runs to defend.
Instead, Tilak extracted 51 runs from those 22 balls. In a match eventually decided by 19 runs, that late acceleration proved crucial.
Tilak Varma Had Already Done It in the Asia Cup Final
This was not the first time Tilak had rescued India against Pakistan in a final.
The 2025 Asia Cup final presented an even tougher situation.
Pakistan were bowled out for 146 after a strong start, with Kuldeep Yadav taking 4/30. On paper, India appeared to have a manageable chase.
It quickly became anything but easy.
India crashed to 20/3. Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav were all back in the pavilion inside four overs.
With the pressure at its highest, Tilak refused to panic.
He first rebuilt the innings alongside Sanju Samson, who scored 24 from 21 balls. After Samson departed, Shivam Dube joined Tilak and scored a crucial 33.
Through all of it, Tilak remained at the crease.
He finished with an unbeaten 69 from 53 ballsincluding three fours and four sixes, as India reached 150/5 with two balls remaining to win by five wickets.
Tilak was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Two Finals, Two Different Challenges, Same Tilak Varma
That is what makes these two performances special.
In the Asia Cup final, Tilak needed to absorb pressure after India had collapsed to 20/3. He could not simply attack because another quick wicket could have put the chase in serious danger.
He stayed calm, took the game deep and finished it unbeaten.
The Asian Games final demanded almost the opposite approach.
India had runs on the board, but the innings had slowed badly after Abhishek’s dismissal. Tilak needed to attack on a surface where several other Indian batters had struggled to score quickly.
He responded with 51* from 22 balls at a strike rate above 231.
Asia Cup 2025 Final vs Pakistan: 69* off 53 balls
Asian Games 2026 Final vs Pakistan: 51* off 22 balls
Two finals. Two unbeaten half-centuries. Two victories over Pakistan.
Tilak may not always receive the loudest praise when India win, but his performances in these two finals deserve special recognition.
An India-Pakistan final brings enormous pressure, and one poor performance can attract intense scrutiny. Tilak has faced that pressure twice in major finals and has responded with two unbeaten match-winning innings.
That is why Tilak Varma deserves to be remembered as the unsung hero of India’s two final victories over Pakistan.
Get cricket updates. Follow Tezzbuzz:
Download the Tezzbuzz app
Take Tezzbuzz with you. Get our app for cricket news and updates on your phone.