In a high-voltage final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the Asia Cup 2025. The rollercoaster contest saw momentum swing multiple times before India’s lower middle order held its nerve to clinch a memorable victory. With this triumph, India secured a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title.
India’s chase under pressure
Chasing 147 for victory, India suffered early setbacks as Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill fell cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 20 for 3. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson steadied the innings with a crucial partnership, but Samson’s dismissal threatened to derail the chase.
Tilak, however, rose to the occasion with a composed half-century, keeping India’s hopes alive. Shivam Dube’s timely boundary hitting and Rinku Singh’s calm finish in the final over sealed the win for India with just two balls to spare.
Pakistan’s batting collapse
Put in to bat first, Pakistan were comfortably placed at 113 for 1 before India’s spinners engineered a dramatic collapse. Kuldeep Yadav starred with 4 for 30, becoming the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps. He was ably supported by Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, who chipped in with two wickets each.
From a strong platform, Pakistan crumbled to 146 all out as Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker finished the innings. Sahibzada Farhan’s fifty was the only significant resistance, while the rest of the batting line-up faltered under pressure.
Star performers and awards
Tilak Varma was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, while Abhishek Sharma was awarded the Player of the Tournament for his consistent batting throughout the series. Kuldeep Yadav also bagged a special award for his record-breaking bowling performance.
Post-match drama
The night ended on a controversial note as the trophy presentation was delayed, and reports confirmed that the players would not be lifting the trophy in front of fans due to off-field administrative issues. Despite the anticlimactic conclusion, Indian supporters celebrated another memorable triumph over their arch-rivals.
Conclusion
India’s 2025 Asia Cup victory will be remembered not just for the pulsating final, but also for the resilience shown by the lower order under pressure. The win adds another chapter to India’s rich history in continental cricket, while Pakistan will be left ruing their batting collapse in a game they once seemed to control.