India celebrated a historic triumph in the T20 Asia Cup 2025, winning their third consecutive match in the Super Four and sealing the title with a commanding performance. However, the post-match spotlight wasn’t just on the victory—it was also on Ravichandran Ashwin’s sharp remarks aimed at Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf.
Ashwin’s Jibe at Rauf
On his YouTube channel, the veteran off-spinner praised Tilak Varma for his match-winning knock under pressure but trolled Haris Rauf for his poor bowling display.
“Tilak Varma absolutely stole the show… Thanks to Haris Rauf, we won the match easily,” Ashwin said, adding that Varma’s composure against spin and his ability to read the sticky bounce turned the game in India’s favour.
Rauf endured a miserable outing, conceding 50 runs in just 3.4 overs without picking up a wicket. Many pundits felt that bowlers like Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz should have bowled more overs instead of persisting with Rauf.
India’s Spin Comeback
Ashwin also lauded India’s spin duo Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, who staged a remarkable turnaround after Pakistan’s openers got off to a flying start. From cruising at nearly 10 runs per over, Pakistan eventually collapsed for 146 all out.
“Varun and Kuldeep changed the game completely. This is where Pakistan struggled compared to Sri Lanka, who handled our spinners with better shot selection,” Ashwin noted.
Kuldeep Yadav – Bowler of the Tournament
India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav finished as the tournament’s standout bowler with 17 wickets in 7 matches at an astonishing average of 9.29, including two four-wicket hauls. Only Shaheen Afridi managed double-digit wickets besides him, but Kuldeep’s consistency and impact placed him in a league of his own.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
