India clinched the Asia Cup final in Dubai with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan, a triumph built on stellar bowling performances by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, and a steady chase anchored by Sanju Samson. Following the thrilling contest, several Indian players shared their thoughts on the high-stakes match.
Varun Chakravarthy on His Impact
I feel great. My objective was definitely to take wickets, especially when Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan were playing so well. Our plans worked out, and the way Kuldeep came in and finished gave me flashbacks to our time together at KKR. He`s consistently a star, truly one of the best spinners.
Looking at recent trends, teams often go all out in the first ten overs if they don`t lose wickets. We knew that by maintaining the right line and length, we could contain them. I also want to acknowledge Hari, our team analyst, for his significant work behind the scenes.
Kuldeep Yadav`s Spin Masterclass
Bowling effectively in the middle overs is absolutely crucial. Having myself, Varun, and Axar playing together is truly a luxury. Each of us has a distinct role, and while they started really well, reaching around 100 for 1 after 10-11 overs, we understood that if we could grab a couple of wickets — perhaps not early, but after the ten-over mark, which Varun did — it would be tough for new batsmen to settle and score easily. When I started my fourth over, my focus was squarely on getting them out.
Before the game, Hari had sent us screenshots detailing the precise lengths to bowl to each batsman. A huge thanks to Hari for that, and of course, what a masterclass from Tilak — he was unbelievable today.
Sanju Samson Embraces the Big Occasion
Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed the pressure. I haven`t played many India-Pakistan matches, but today, the intensity was palpable. With three wickets down in the powerplay, my task was to draw upon my experience, settle my nerves, and simply react to the ball. That approach paid off beautifully. I forged an excellent partnership with Tilak, and I truly enjoyed playing this game.
As we all know, the nature of the game dictates how you should play. You must respect the conditions and the match situation. This is a lesson we’ve absorbed from years of IPL and international cricket. So, I just focused on timing the ball, and that was immensely helpful.
Close matches are invaluable. They truly test your character and mental fortitude. This pre-World Cup awareness is vital, making this game particularly crucial. These knockout encounters are excellent preparation for the big tournaments coming in a few months, and I`m glad to have made a significant contribution.
Shubman Gill on the Unbeaten Run and Team Effort
It feels pretty amazing to be in this position, having gone through the entire tournament unbeaten. Playing alongside Abhishek Sharma is also incredible. We`ve played almost all our cricket together, knowing each other inside out. It`s fantastic to bat with him; his aggressive style takes the pressure off the non-striker, and he`s been phenomenal throughout this tournament.
Our discussion was about taking the chase as deep as possible. The target wasn`t massive, but it was essential to soak up the initial pressure. Losing three early wickets is never easy, but the way Sanju and Tilak built their partnership, and then how Dube came in to hit those crucial big sixes, was incredibly important.
In the final against them, needing 30 runs in three overs, there wasn`t much panic, but the game could still have swung either way. Especially on a slow wicket with large boundaries here, you really need to connect well to clear the ropes. As I said, the ability of both Sanju and Tilak to first absorb the pressure and then find their hitting zones to send the ball out of the park was absolutely vital.
