Dubai: India clinched their ninth Asia Cup title on Sunday with a commanding five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 147, the defending champions overcame early jitters to secure a thrilling victory, but the post-match presentation turned chaotic as India refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and ACC president Mohsin Naqvi.
After Pakistan posted 146 all out in 19.1 overs, India’s spinners – Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel – dominated the back 10 overs, taking nine wickets for just 33 runs. Despite Hardik Pandya being unavailable and Pakistan’s early 84-run partnership, India’s bowlers executed a clinical plan to skittle their rivals for a below-par total.
Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh seal the chase
Needing 10 runs off the final over, Tilak Varma launched Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf into the mid-wicket stands, setting the stage for Rinku Singh to hit the winning boundary. It was Singh’s first ball of the tournament, sending Indian fans into delirium and marking a spectacular end to a high-pressure chase.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, celebrating India’s triumph, posted on X, “In the end, INTENT always wins,” applauding the team’s grit and performance.
India-Pakistan on-field drama
Jasprit Bumrah added spice to the contest, dismissing Haris Rauf and mimicking a crashing-plane gesture, a cheeky response to Rauf’s earlier controversial celebration against Indian fans. The match highlighted India’s dominance with both spin and pace bowling, and the team’s composure under pressure.
Trophy presentation controversy
Following the win, the post-match presentation was unprecedentedly tense. India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy when it was meant to be handed over by Mohsin Naqvi. The standoff lasted over an hour, with the Pakistani team staying in their dressing room and Indian players standing by as the dignitaries waited on the stage.
ACC officials attempted to manage the situation, but the trophy was eventually not awarded to the champions during the ceremony, creating a historic moment of off-field drama in the tournament.
Conclusion
The Asia Cup 2025 final will be remembered not only for India’s clinical performance on the field but also for the controversy off it. While Indian fans celebrated a thrilling victory, the refusal to accept the trophy highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two cricketing nations, leaving the tournament without a proper ceremonial closure.