India’s hero from the Asia Cup 2025 final, Tilak Varma, was met with an astounding reception in his hometown Hyderabad after his match-winning innings against Pakistan in Dubai. A video showcasing the 22-year-old’s arrival at the airport and later in his car quickly went viral across social media. Fans were seen in a frenzy, cheering enthusiastically and beating traditional ‘dhols’ to celebrate the local boy’s triumphant return.
Tilak was undeniably the star of the high-stakes final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. He delivered an innings marked by exceptional composure and sheer brilliance. When India found themselves in a precarious position at 10/2 while chasing 147, the left-handed batsman masterfully anchored the innings with an unbeaten 69 runs off just 53 deliveries, a knock embellished with three fours and four towering sixes. His crucial partnerships with teammates Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube ultimately shifted the momentum, ensuring India secured their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title with just two balls to spare.
Back home, the scenes were nothing short of spectacular and filled with euphoria. Hundreds of fans eagerly lined the streets outside the airport, chanting his name as he waved back from the comfort of his car. The widely circulated video of this magnificent welcome perfectly encapsulates the immense pride Hyderabad feels for one of its brightest cricketing stars.
The young southpaw’s consistent performance in high-pressure matches continues to highlight his remarkable temperament. In critical knockout games for both the Indian national team and his IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, Tilak has impressively accumulated 207 runs in five innings, boasting a blistering strike rate of over 160. His consistency in T20 International chases is equally astonishing, with 370 runs scored in 11 innings at an extraordinary average of 92.50.
Throughout the Asia Cup, Tilak emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing 213 runs in six innings at an average of 71.00, only behind Abhishek Sharma. In his overall T20I career spanning 32 matches, he has already scored 962 runs at an impressive average of 53.44, including two centuries.
However, for passionate Indian fans, it will be his magnificent unbeaten 69* in the final that will be etched in their memories as the innings that clinched glorious victory against their formidable arch-rivals, Pakistan. And for the city of Hyderabad, it was truly a moment to embrace and celebrate their homegrown hero in truly grand and unforgettable fashion.