In a dramatic and tense final, the Indian cricket team defeated its arch-rival Pakistan by five wickets to lift the Asia Cup 2025 trophy for a record-extending ninth time. The match, played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with young batter Tilak Varma emerging as the hero for India with a calm and composed half-century under immense pressure. 
Chasing a modest target of 147 runs, India faced a sudden collapse early in their innings but recovered thanks to a brilliant partnership to seal a memorable victory.
However, the match turned completely in India’s favor once the first wicket fell. The Indian spin attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav, triggered a spectacular batting collapse. Pakistan, from a comfortable position of 113 for one, lost their next nine wickets for just 33 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav was the chief destroyer, taking four crucial wickets. He received excellent support from fellow spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, who took two wickets each. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also chipped in with two late wickets, including the final one, as Pakistan was bowled out for 146 with five balls to spare in their innings.
The dramatic downfall left cricket experts and fans stunned. Pakistani pace legend Waqar Younis, commentating on the match, described his team's batting as "brainless" and "horrible," expressing deep disappointment at the squandered opportunity.
Ashraf removed the dangerous Abhishek Sharma for just 5 runs, and Afridi followed up by capturing the wicket of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for only 1 run. When Shubman Gill fell soon after, India found themselves in deep trouble at 20 runs for three wickets within the first four overs—their worst powerplay performance of the entire tournament.
With the high required run rate adding to the pressure, the responsibility fell on the young shoulders of Tilak Varma and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. The pair began the difficult task of rebuilding the innings, carefully rotating the strike and hitting the occasional boundary.
The crucial moment came when Samson was dismissed for 24, leaving India at 77 for four. All-rounder Shivam Dube then joined Varma in the middle, and together they forged a match-winning partnership. Varma played the anchor role, bringing up a vital fifty, while Dube provided the power, smashing key sixes to ease the mounting pressure.
The tension reached its peak in the 19th over when Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf suffered from severe cramps and could not complete his delivery, causing an eight-minute delay. When play resumed, India needed 17 runs from 12 balls. Varma and Dube kept their nerve, scoring steadily and eventually guiding India to the target with two balls to spare. Varma remained not out on 58, with Dube unbeaten on 34.
For India, opener Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer of the tournament, amassing over 300 runs. However, in the final, it was the bowling unit and the middle-order resilience that secured the championship. The team successfully defended its title from the 2023 edition, cementing its dominance in Asian cricket.
Pakistan, despite a brilliant start with the bat, will be left to ponder a missed opportunity. Their dramatic middle-order collapse in a high-stakes final proved too great a handicap to overcome against a determined Indian side. The Indian cricket team now celebrates its ninth Asia Cup triumph, a testament to its skill and composure on the biggest stage.
Chasing a modest target of 147 runs, India faced a sudden collapse early in their innings but recovered thanks to a brilliant partnership to seal a memorable victory.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse Paves the Way for India
After winning the toss and choosing to field first, the Indian team watched as Pakistani openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman built a formidable foundation. The duo put on a commanding 84-run partnership, making it look like Pakistan would post a massive total.However, the match turned completely in India’s favor once the first wicket fell. The Indian spin attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav, triggered a spectacular batting collapse. Pakistan, from a comfortable position of 113 for one, lost their next nine wickets for just 33 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav was the chief destroyer, taking four crucial wickets. He received excellent support from fellow spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, who took two wickets each. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also chipped in with two late wickets, including the final one, as Pakistan was bowled out for 146 with five balls to spare in their innings.
The dramatic downfall left cricket experts and fans stunned. Pakistani pace legend Waqar Younis, commentating on the match, described his team's batting as "brainless" and "horrible," expressing deep disappointment at the squandered opportunity.
India’s Rocky Chase and Varma’s Heroics
In response, India’s chase began disastrously. Pakistan’s bowlers, seeking to defend the low total, struck early and often. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf brought Pakistan right back into the game.Ashraf removed the dangerous Abhishek Sharma for just 5 runs, and Afridi followed up by capturing the wicket of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for only 1 run. When Shubman Gill fell soon after, India found themselves in deep trouble at 20 runs for three wickets within the first four overs—their worst powerplay performance of the entire tournament.
With the high required run rate adding to the pressure, the responsibility fell on the young shoulders of Tilak Varma and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. The pair began the difficult task of rebuilding the innings, carefully rotating the strike and hitting the occasional boundary.
The crucial moment came when Samson was dismissed for 24, leaving India at 77 for four. All-rounder Shivam Dube then joined Varma in the middle, and together they forged a match-winning partnership. Varma played the anchor role, bringing up a vital fifty, while Dube provided the power, smashing key sixes to ease the mounting pressure.
The tension reached its peak in the 19th over when Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf suffered from severe cramps and could not complete his delivery, causing an eight-minute delay. When play resumed, India needed 17 runs from 12 balls. Varma and Dube kept their nerve, scoring steadily and eventually guiding India to the target with two balls to spare. Varma remained not out on 58, with Dube unbeaten on 34.
A Tournament Dominated by India
This victory marked India’s third consecutive win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, having previously beaten them in the group stage and the Super Four stage. The final was also the first time the two teams had met in an Asia Cup title decider in 41 years.For India, opener Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer of the tournament, amassing over 300 runs. However, in the final, it was the bowling unit and the middle-order resilience that secured the championship. The team successfully defended its title from the 2023 edition, cementing its dominance in Asian cricket.
Pakistan, despite a brilliant start with the bat, will be left to ponder a missed opportunity. Their dramatic middle-order collapse in a high-stakes final proved too great a handicap to overcome against a determined Indian side. The Indian cricket team now celebrates its ninth Asia Cup triumph, a testament to its skill and composure on the biggest stage.
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