Dubai [UAE],(ANI): Following India’s memorable Asia Cup 2025 victory, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav shared his emotions after playing a starring role in the high-pressure final against Pakistan. He said that finals are meant to test a player’s skills and temperament, and expressed pride in how the Men in Blue stood tall on the big occasion.

India’s spin trio shines in the final

The final, played on Sunday in Dubai, saw India’s spinners dominate Pakistan’s batting line-up on a sluggish pitch. Varun Chakravarthy (2/30) broke Pakistan’s strong opening stand by removing Sahibzada Farhan for 57, while Axar Patel (2/26) kept the pressure on in the middle overs.

The standout performer, however, was Kuldeep Yadav, who delivered a match-winning spell of 4/30. He dismantled Pakistan’s middle order, removing their power hitters and ensuring the opposition folded for 146 runs in 19.1 overs. His performance capped off a stellar tournament where he finished as the highest wicket-taker, claiming 17 wickets at an average of 9.29.

Kuldeep reflects on India’s performance

Kuldeep later took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his pride in the team’s effort. “Finals are meant to test you, proud of how we stood tall last night,” he wrote.

He also revealed that India’s bowling coach Hari had given valuable inputs before the game, particularly on the ideal lengths to exploit against Pakistan’s batters. The strategy worked to perfection as India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance.

Batting unit seals the win

Chasing 147, India lost early wickets and slipped to 20/3. However, Tilak Varma played a mature innings, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls. He found able support in Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33), as India recovered and clinched a five-wicket win.

Debutant Rinku Singh hit the winning runs, capping off a dream tournament for the young Indian side. The triumph marked India’s second T20I Asia Cup title and ninth overall, including ODI editions.

Post-match controversy over trophy presentation

While the on-field performance was dominant, the post-match presentation was marred by controversy. The Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief and ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.

The Indian team collected their individual awards from other dignitaries but did not acknowledge Naqvi, who was later seen walking away with the trophy and medals.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that India had declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi due to his political role. “We have decided not to take the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan. But that does not mean he should take away the trophy with him. We hope it will be returned soon,” Saikia said.

A statement win for India

Despite the off-field drama, the Asia Cup 2025 final underlined India’s dominance in T20 cricket. The team has now won 18 of their last 22 matches under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy.

Kuldeep Yadav’s consistency with the ball, combined with the emergence of young batters like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma, showcased the squad’s depth and resilience. For Indian fans, the win was as much about pride as it was about performance, with the team once again proving its mettle against arch-rivals Pakistan.