'He treated Shaheen Afridi like net-ball spinner': Not just Abhishek Sharma, Sunil Gavaskar hails this 'super-talented batter'

"When the second match came along, there was an improved batting performance by Pakistan in the first half before the loss of three wickets put them on the back foot again, and despite getting big runs in the final three overs, they were 20 runs shorter than what they would have wanted. India breezed to a win after a delightful opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill that took the breath away and crushed any hopes the Pakistanis had of winning the game. In the end, another super-talented batter, Tilak Varma, treated Pakistan’s premier bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, like a net-ball spinner and smashed him around to wrap a win with deliveries to spare," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. 

ALSO READ: Injury scare for Bangladesh ahead of India clash, captain Litton Das suffers back strain while batting in nets

Varma finishes it off in style

After Samson departed, India needed 24 more runs from 20 balls. First Hardik Pandya hit Haris Rauf for a four first ball. In the 18th over, Varma released the pressure with a six off Faheem Ashraf. After 18 overs, India needed nine runs from two overs. On the fourth over, Varma picked the off-cutter and hit it over long-off for a maximum. He finished the run chase with a flick towards backward square-leg.

ALSO READ: Ended Mandhana's carnage in historic run chase, Australia's star all-rounder ruled out of Women's ODI World Cup 2025, inexperienced player named replacement

Varma remained unbeaten for 30 off 19 balls. He walked out to bat after captain Suryakumar Yadav lost his wicket in the 11th over. 

Varma’s form in T20 Asia Cup 2025

So far, he has scored 90 runs from three innings at a strike rate of 132.55. In the group stage game against Pakistan, he contributed with a run-a-ball 31 in the run chase of 128. Against Oman, he batted at no.7 and scored 29 runs from just 18 balls, featuring a four and two sixes.