Andhra and UP CMs Praise Tilak Varma for Asia Cup Winning Performance

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy showered praise on Hyderabad’s Tilak Varma for his match-winning 69 not out in India’s thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday. The left-hander’s composed innings, steering India from a shaky 20-3 to chase 147, secured their ninth Asia Cup title and second in the T20 format. Naidu, in a post on X, hailed Varma’s “composure and brilliance” as reflective of “the fire and determination Telugu youth are made of,” adding that the 23-year-old made Andhra Pradesh proud. Reddy echoed the sentiment, commending Varma’s “consistent brilliance” and the team’s remarkable triumph.

Varma’s defining moment came in the final over, needing 10 runs, when he smashed a towering six off Pakistan’s Haris Rauf over mid-wicket, easing the pressure. Rinku Singh, in his tournament debut, sealed the win with a boundary, sending Indian fans into a frenzy. Varma, named Player of the Match, credited partnerships with Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33) for steadying the chase on a challenging pitch. His knock, blending aggression and restraint, marked a career-defining performance, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer since his T20I debut in 2022.

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led tributes, posting on X in Hindi: “No matter what the ‘field’, India will always be victorious... Jai Hind!” He congratulated the entire squad for their dominance, having defeated Pakistan thrice in the tournament, including the group and Super Four stages. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav emphasised unity, stating, “Hearty congratulations to all the united players, coaches, supporting staff, and countrymen on winning the Asia Cup!” The Uttar Pradesh Police joined in, likening the victory to festive fireworks from “Dussehra to Diwali”, celebrating India’s spark on the scoreboard.

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The victory, India’s first Asia Cup final against Pakistan since the tournament’s inception in 1984, was not without controversy, as India declined the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi and skipped handshakes, citing tensions linked to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Despite off-field friction, the political chorus from Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh reflects national pride in the team’s resilience. Varma’s heroics, backed by captain Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership and Abhishek Sharma’s Player of the Tournament award, underscored India’s depth, setting an optimistic tone for future global challenges.

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