Young Indian batter Tilak Varma has brushed aside the viral ‘Operation Tilak’ tagline that emerged on social media following India’s Asia Cup 2025 final triumph over Pakistan on Sunday, September 28. The 22-year-old, who played a match-winning innings in Dubai, pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already dubbed the victory ‘Operation Sindoor on the game’s field’.
PM Modi’s congratulatory post immediately went viral, sparking celebrations across India. Meanwhile, ‘Operation Tilak’ trended as fans lauded Varma’s unbeaten 69, which powered India to a thrilling five-wicket chase of 147 against Pakistan. Early wickets of Abhishek Sharma, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill left India reeling at 20 for 3.
Tilak Varma, however, steadied the innings, forging crucial partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube before setting the stage for Rinku Singh to hit the winning boundary. Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, Tilak expressed pride at contributing to India’s triumph.
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“Prime Minister Modi called it Operation Sindoor, but Operation Tilak is a huge thing. In sports, we represent our country, and at the right moment, I had my opportunity. I am feeling great that I could do something for my country,” he said.
India faced Pakistan on the field for the first time since the terror attack in Pahalgam and subsequent cross-border tensions. Emotions ran high throughout the Asia Cup, with Indian players avoiding handshakes in all three matches. Pakistan responded with provocative gestures, including Haris Rauf mimicking a fighter jet being shot down and Sahibzada Farhan firing an imaginary gun during his half-century celebrations.
Tilak Varma revealed there were heated exchanges during the final, but he refused to be drawn into sledging. “When we lost three early wickets, they tried to intensify the situation. I focused on winning, not reacting. My bat was my response,” he said. Tilak described the pressure as immense, keeping the country’s pride in mind: “I had to be calm under pressure because I was representing 1.4 billion people. I can’t afford to let them down. Everything I learned from childhood helped me today.”
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Finishing unbeaten on 69 off 53 balls, Varma anchored India’s innings while Samson and Dube accelerated in the middle overs. Looking ahead, he emphasized that his ultimate goal is the 2026 World Cup. Tilak will spend time with family before joining the Indian squad for the white-ball tour of Australia in October, aiming to continue his rise as a key figure in Indian cricket.
