'Suryakumar told us Pakistan is no match for Indian team': Tilak Varma drops bombshell

The hero of the Asia Cup 2025 final, Tilak Varma, has revealed Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s message before the Pakistan matches in the tournament. India played Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup, winning all the matches, including the final on Sunday.

Tilak Varma was the Player of the Match in the final with a knock of 69 not out, helping India finish a tense 147-run chase in which the Men In Blue lost three wickets in the powerplay. Varma’s clutch knock epitomised India’s approach against Pakistan in a tournament that was played just a few months after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.

Also Read | From early jitters to final heroics: How Tilak Varma sealed India’s Asia Cup 2025 glory

Despite the political noise around the match and Pakistani players making provocative gestures, Indian cricketers never lost their cool and completed the job like professionals, while also refusing to shake hands with their counterparts to express solidarity with the victims of the attack.

More from First Cricket

Kapil Dev delivers strong take on politically charged Asia Cup: 'We should stick to sports' Mohsin Naqvi reportedly sets one condition to hand over Asia Cup trophy to India: Report

Tilak Varma on match-winning knock in Asia Cup

After making a heroic return to his hometown Hyderabad, Tilak Varma revealed that captain Suryakumar told his team that Pakistan was no match for them.

VIDEO | The hero of Asia Cup final Tilak Varma (@TilakV9) gets rousing welcome with crowd greeting him with beats of drums upon his arrival at Hyderabad airport.

The batter walked in during chase at a crucial time when Indian team was tottering at three wickets down during their… pic.twitter.com/p1XZwT0LmE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 29, 2025

“Suryakumar told us that Pakistan is no match for the Indian team,” Varma told the media before adding that Pakistan players tried to distract him during the final. “Pakistan tried to distract me, but it is a part of the game. I remained calm under pressure.”

Also Read | Asia Cup trophy drama continues, BCCI asks Naqvi to deliver silverware to ACC office: Reports

Reflecting on his match-winning knock, Tilak Varma said that it was the best innings he has played in his young international career.

“We lost three wickers early…there was pressure on us, but we kept our calm.

“I would rate this as my best innings. I was confident that I would finish the game after Shivam Dube got out and I did so.”

Meanwhile, Tilak is set to receive a massive prize money from BCCI as the board has announced a cash award of Rs 21 crore for the players and the support staff after India won the Asia Cup.