India’s Asia Cup 2025 triumph over Pakistan saw young cricket sensation Tilak Varma become an overnight hero after his unbeaten 69-run innings steered India to a thrilling five-wicket victory in the tense final at Dubai on September 28. Despite the massive acclaim and social media frenzy around the “Operation Tilak” tagline celebrating his match-winning performance, the 22-year-old star refused to label the victory by this name, instead referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s terminology of “Operation Sindoor on the games field” to describe the India-Pakistan cricket contest and its broader significance.

Tilak Varma downplays “Operation Tilak” label after match-winning innings

Tilak addressed the media in Hyderabad shortly after returning from Dubai, explicitly distancing himself from the trending “Operation Tilak” phrase. He paid respect to PM Modi’s description of the cricket final as “Operation Sindoor,” a phrase linking the match to the political and military tension between India and Pakistan earlier in the year, specifically after India’s retaliatory strikes following the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025. Tilak said to India Today, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it Operation Sindoor, but to call it Operation Tilak is a huge thing. I am proud I could do something for my country when it mattered most”.

The final was highly charged not only due to the cricketing rivalry but also the tense political backdrop that saw no handshakes between the two teams in all three matches during the tournament and provocative gestures from the Pakistani players, including mimicked fighter jets and gunfire celebrations. Tilak revealed that there was tension and sledging targeted at India especially after they lost three early wickets, but he remained composed and focused on winning the game without getting distracted by the on-field provocations. “The best reply was winning the match. If I got drawn into it, it would have let my country down,” he added.

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Tilak reflects on the pressure and future ambitions

Tilak’s unbeaten 69 off 53 balls was marked by maturity well beyond his years, especially in his partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube that rescued India from a precarious 20 for 3 to a historic win. At the press conference, Tilak spoke about the enormous pressure he felt, emphasizing that his thoughts were solely on the country and the 1.4 billion people watching. The innings showcased his calm under pressure and disciplined approach, using his skillset and lessons from childhood coaching to rise to the occasion.

Looking ahead, Tilak revealed that his ultimate goal extends beyond this memorable Asia Cup final. Having developed a passion for cricket watching the 2011 World Cup, he aspires to represent India in the upcoming World Cup and contribute to winning that ultimate prize. Before joining the Indian squad for the white-ball tour of Australia slated for October, Tilak plans to spend some quality time with family and friends.

India’s win in this tense final extended their record as the most successful team in Asia Cup history with a ninth title, riding on the backbone of young stars like Tilak and the experienced leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. The victory symbolized not just cricketing dominance but also a narrative of national pride amid ongoing political tensions between the neighboring countries.

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