India, Oct. 1 -- Tilak Varma has become a cult hero after playing a match-winning knock under pressure against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai. Tilak stood tall when things were not going well for India, stitching crucial partnerships in the middle to keep the scoreboard moving in the tricky 147-run chase. The left-handed batter took the onus on himself and held one end when his partners kept changing from the other end and took the team over the line in the big-ticket final.

Varma shared a 57-run stand off 50 balls alongside Sanju Samson (24), but the decisive partnership came with Shivam Dube, who scored 33 off 22. Together, they added 60 runs off 40 balls, turning the match in India's favour. Varma remained unbeaten on 69 from...