“Virat Kohli used to do this job” - Ex-Indian all-rounder heaps praise on Tilak Varma for his match-winning knock in Asia Cup 2025 Final

Former Indian all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan has heaped praise on India’s No.4 batter Tilak Varma, who played a match-winning knock under extreme pressure in the grand finale against Pakistan on Sunday, September 28, in Dubai.

Advertisment

Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Irfan asserted that he saw the shades of Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli as Tilak Varma took his side over the line. Moreover, he felt that Tilak’s 69-run unbeaten knock would be his career-best knock despite him scoring two centuries in the shortest format of the game.

"Tilak Varma has played the best innings of his career. He has scored two centuries in T20I cricket, but he hasn't played a better innings than this. This is just a 69-run knock, but Tilak Varma would have never faced bigger pressure than this in his career, and he converted that into a big performance brilliantly," he said on Sony Sports Network.

"It seemed at one stage that we would fall way behind. There, he played a Virat Kohli-type inning because Virat Kohli used to do this job. He used to stand like a king in big games against Pakistan in such situations. This inning will be remembered for years," Pathan added.

Additionally, the former all-rounder reckoned that Tilak handled the pressure pretty well despite the fall of wickets from the other end, adding that he played low-risk cricket. Also, he noted that Pakistan couldn’t use Mohammad Nawaz properly, because of Tilak’s presence at the crease. 

"Wickets were falling from the other end, but he kept doing his job. He handled the pressure. He didn't feel that wickets were falling and there would be more pressure at the end, so he should play a big shot. He didn't do that. He played this inning with low-risk cricket," he said.

"That's why Virat Kohli's name repeatedly comes to mind because he used to play such low-risk cricket. There is another thing. Mohammad Nawaz's three overs were left because he (Tilak) was playing. If a left-arm spinner bowled fast on this pitch, he would have made it difficult. They (Pakistan) couldn't manage the bowling the way they wanted," he concluded.

Advertisment

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!