Long before the Asia Cup 2025 final, young Indian stars Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh had quietly set their intentions. As part of a team exercise, each player was handed a plain white sheet to pen down personal wishes for the tournament. Tilak boldly wrote that he wanted to play a match-winning innings, while Rinku dreamed of scoring the winning runs – both intentions that would become reality in dramatic fashion.
Tilak Varma delivered an innings for the ages, guiding India to a memorable five-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing 147, India slumped early to 20/3 within the first four overs, but Varma’s calm demeanor under pressure steadied the innings.
Rotating the strike with maturity and forging crucial partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, he scored an unbeaten 69* off 53 balls, featuring three boundaries and four sixes, steering India to glory. His composure from the very first delivery reflected a young cricketer ready to shoulder responsibility on the biggest stage.
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It wasn’t just Tilak who saw his wish fulfilled. Rinku Singh, sidelined for India’s first six matches due to team combination constraints, earned his opportunity in the final after Hardik Pandya was ruled out with a Friday injury against Sri Lanka. Determined to make an impact, Rinku was electric in the field, diving, chasing, and taking sharp catches.
🗣️WATCH : Sanjana Ganesan just revealed what players had written on the cards before the start of Asia Cup.
Rinku had written – 𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 🥹
What he manifested, came True 💜. pic.twitter.com/pLLrDbCdx9
— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) September 28, 2025
On 6th September, Rinku Singh manifested to hit winning runs in final and Tilak Verma to score in final and win
They have walked the talk😭❤️pic.twitter.com/0E6PD66woo
— S.Bhai33 (@HPstanno1) September 28, 2025
The moment of destiny arrived in the penultimate over when Shivam Dube was dismissed, allowing Rinku to walk to the crease with India needing just a few runs. Known for his finishing skills, Rinku dispatched the very first ball he faced to the boundary through long-on, hitting the winning runs and completing his own fairy-tale moment. India secured its ninth Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, wrist-spinner Varun Chakravarthy had written down a wish for India to remain unbeaten throughout the tournament, and that too came true. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India dominated all seven matches, demonstrating remarkable consistency and belief.
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The fulfillment of these personal and collective wishes reflects the mindset of the current Indian team – fearless, focused, and fully confident in their abilities. Courtesy of stellar performances and a shared sense of purpose, India not only lifted the Asia Cup for a record-extending ninth time but also recorded their eighth consecutive victory over Pakistan in the tournament, a triumph that will remain etched in the memories of cricket fans for years to come.
