Indian batter Tilak Varma revealed Pakistan players tried hard to sledge him during his match-winning knock against them in the Asia Cup final at Dubai on Sunday. The Men in Blue registered a thrilling five-wicket win, thanks to Varma’s unbeaten knock of 69 runs off just 53 balls.
India found themselves under the quagmire at 20-3 in the run-chase of 147; however, Varma was able to get his team over the line. He added 57 runs with Sanju Samson and then added 60 runs with Shivam Dube.
The pressure was huge on both teams due to the political tensions but in the end, it was India who kept their calm and Varma played a key role in India’s emphatic win.
Tilak Varma told reporters in Hyderabad, “I agree with captain Suryakumar Yadav that there is no rivalry. Pakistan is no match for us. But every opposition comes up with different plans, and Pakistan also did the same. There was pressure on me when I walked out to bat and there were nerves as well. A lot was going on in my mind, but under pressure, I was only thinking about my country and wanted to win the match for 140 crores of Indians. As India had lost three wickets and there was pressure on us, the Pakistan players came hard at me. They tried to sledge me.”
Varma revealed Pakistan fielders were trying their best to distract him but he didn’t get involved in any verbal battle.
“But I made sure not to play any rash shot in haste and tried to stay calm. Like I said before, I just had to follow the basics and didn’t respond to them. I decided to respond to them after the match. They tried to distract me a lot. It happens a lot in India vs Pakistan matches and I can’t say what exactly happened in front of camera.”
The young batter revealed he was willing to do anything for the country and said his bigger goal is performing in the World Cup.
“There was pressure. I was able to feel my nerves. But I always had the country in mind. The country is bigger than anything else. I was ready to give my life for the country. That was playing in my mind. I had to be calm under pressure because I was representing 1.4 billion people. I can’t afford to let them down. All the basics that I have learnt from my childhood helped me. I am happy that I was able to contribute to India’s success in the Asia Cup. But my bigger goal is the World Cup.”
India will next take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series at home.
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