India spinner Kuldeep Yadav praised the collective effort of the team after their thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday in Dubai. Playing a pivotal role in India’s triumph, Kuldeep claimed four crucial wickets, helping restrict Pakistan to just 146 runs.
During India’s chase, the team faced early setbacks, losing three wickets with only 20 runs on the board. But Tilak Varma rose to the occasion, scoring an unbeaten 69 runs and steering India to victory with just two balls remaining.
Kuldeep highlighted the contributions of all players that led to India’s success in the tournament. “It feels very good when we perform for the team. There’s nothing bigger in this world than contributing to the team’s victory. It was a good tournament for me.”
He further added :
“Everyone saw how Abhishek Sharma also performed, and even Tilak played a brilliant knock, like he did in the IPL. However, there are certain things that often go unnoticed-like Axar Patel’s role with the ball, Sanju Samson’s partnership with Tilak, and two important wickets taken by Varun Chakaravarthy. So, we can say that it was a team effort that helped us clinch the Asia Cup title,” said Kuldeep.
Key Partnerships and Performances
Sanju Samson played a vital supporting role in India’s chase, forming a 57-run partnership with Tilak Varma after early wickets fell. Samson contributed a crucial 24 runs, helping steady the innings and giving India the momentum to chase down the target. Kuldeep’s praise extended to every player, emphasizing that each performance, visible or not, played a significant role in securing the title.
Focus on the Game, Not Controversy
When questioned about the team’s refusal to accept the winning trophy from ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi, Kuldeep chose not to comment on the incident. “I have no idea about what happened. Whenever we play a match, we focus on the temperament of our team-how we approach the game-and that’s how we perform,” he said.
Kuldeep also appreciated Pakistan’s performance in the final, acknowledging the challenge they posed. “We enjoyed a lot after the victory. It always feels good when you defeat a good team. We cannot deny the fact that they also played brilliantly. We were three down for just 20 runs, and they had a terrific start with the bat. But we must appreciate the comeback made by our team. All the players contributed equally to the win,” he added.
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