Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was utterly impressed by young Tilak Varma’s stellar performance following India’s dominant six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match held in Dubai. Gavaskar, a batting stalwart himself, remarked that Varma’s audacious hitting made Pakistan’s formidable fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, appear as easy to play as a ‘net-ball spinner.’ It was these fearless strokes that ultimately secured India’s triumph.
Coming to the crease at number four, Tilak Varma began cautiously, scoring 20 runs from 17 balls. However, he unleashed his true potential in the 19th over. Against Shaheen Afridi, considered Pakistan’s primary bowling threat, the 22-year-old sensation emphatically sealed the game with a massive six, swiftly followed by a perfectly timed boundary. Varma remained undefeated on 30 runs from just 19 balls, a display of cool confidence and daring strokes that left Gavaskar thoroughly impressed.
In his column for The Sportstar, Gavaskar lauded, “Ultimately, another incredibly talented batter, Tilak Varma, approached Pakistan’s leading bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, as if he were merely a net-ball spinner, hitting him aggressively to secure a victory with overs to spare.”
The legendary Indian cricketer further commended the team’s overall outstanding performance, highlighting the breathtaking 105-run opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. Gavaskar noted, “India cruised to victory after an enchanting opening stand by Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, which was truly captivating and extinguished any lingering hopes Pakistan had of securing the match.”
Adding to Pakistan’s challenges, Shaheen Afridi failed to take any wickets in both of his encounters against India during this year’s Asia Cup. Despite a brief late batting resurgence, Pakistan’s score was 20 runs short of a competitive target, leaving India comfortably in charge. This win propelled India to the top of the Super 4 standings, level on two points with Bangladesh but holding a superior net run rate. The reigning champions are now strongly positioned for another appearance in the final, with emerging talents like Tilak Varma proving to be crucial assets alongside the team’s seasoned players. For Pakistan, the path forward is clear yet demanding: they must win their remaining two matches to stay in contention, or face the prospect of India and Bangladesh clashing in the ultimate showdown.