Tilak unlocks common sense

A rose in the battlefield: that's how Tilak Varma's innings felt.

As the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday pulsed with tension amid the politically charged theatre of the Asia Cup, a young player stood still in the storm, showing cricket's enduring principles could still survive spectacle and suspense alike.

Tilak walked in after India's chase of 147 began in turmoil. Their top order collapsed to 20 for three inside the Powerplay, with Pakistan's bowlers circling like wounded predators sensing overdue prey.

Yet his composure made the chaos recede -- a chaos feeding the revival narrative of Pakistan, who lost their last nine wickets for just 33 runs. In 53 balls, the southpaw scored an unbeaten 69, decorated with three boundaries and four sixes, forged not by force but judgment.

After Shivam Dube joined him at 77 for four, with required run rate going up, Tilak kept guiding his partner with steady presence. Near the crescendo, 10 runs were needed off the final over, and his towering six on the second delivery had all but sealed the fate of the game.

In the triumphant moment, Tilak became an ambassador of batsmanship, bridging modern aggression to the classical principles. India's No. 4 offered lessons beyond the runs and the corresponding strike rate: a study in technique and temperament.

Bangladesh cricket, in particular, must take note. The Tigers' own campaign in the UAE was a cautionary tale. In a virtual semifinal fixture against Pakistan, they collapsed in a chase of 136 as nerves overwhelmed skill and fundamentals were forgotten -- a far greater embarrassing batting than what preceded in their 169-run chase against India.

Wasim Akram, Sunil Gavaskar, and other legendary figures noted, what was missing was the very "basics" Tilak dumbed down for all to perceive, especially for young batters across cricket academies in the country. A masterclass worth revisiting over and over again, it also provided a minor-but-no-less-useful lesson.

After he went out to bat, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris verbally poked him in a non-English language which both teams understood: "This isn't Mumbai [Indians], and this isn't the IPL," said Haris. This could have rattled a youngster given the occasion.

However, the 22-year-old hailing from Hyderabad chose the only path approved by the so-called -- or what used to be -- gentleman's game. By letting the willow speak, he also reaffirmed the Indian Premier League's reputation in battle-hardening young talents.

Call it damage control at the end of the night, but Tilak -- like a chemist expert in titration -- did end up extracting a pure solution from a toxic mixture, sparing the spirit of cricket from further breaking bad, giving fans of the sport some scope to reflect on the refreshing, cricketing side of things.