India took on Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday in Dubai
They defeated the Men in Green by 5 wickets to become Asia Cup Champions for the 9th time
Tilak Varma was the star of the match, scoring an unbeaten 69
India clinched their ninth Asia Cup title in Dubai, beating bitter rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a tense Dubai final that swung dramatically across phases: Pakistan's early dominance in both innings and India's fightback each time.
Asked to set a target by India captain Suryakumar Yadav, Pakistan's innings began with promise. Fakhar Zaman (57 off 38) and Sahibzada Farhan (46 off 35) added 84 in 58 balls, and at 100/1 in the 12th over, Pakistan looked set for a big total.
Farhan, who became one of Varun Chakaravarthy's two victims, was particularly aggressive against Jasprit Bumrah, India's pace spearhead. His calculated assault, featuring lofted drives and pulls, gave Pakistan early momentum while Zaman, more measured, complemented him with fine shot selection.
However, the Pakistani innings unravelled once the openers got out. Skipper Agha Ali Salman and Mohammad Nawaz failed to rebuild, and Pakistan lost the last nine wickets for just 33 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav's reintroduction triggered a collapse. His wrist spin stifled the Pakistani middle order, while Axar Patel (2/26) chipped in with timely wickets after Shivam Dube opened the bowling in the absence of unfit Hardik Pandya. Yadav added four more to his already tournament record haul of 13.
Bumrah, despite an expensive start, returned to clean up the tail, including a beauty of a yorker to dismiss Haris Rauf, which he celebrated in style. Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 146 all out in 19.5 overs.
India's chase began shakily, unexpectedly. Tournament's leading scorer Abhishek Sharma (5 off 6) and Shubman Gill (12 off 10) left in a hurry, both undone by Faheem Ashraf's craft. Underperforming Suryakumar Yadav didn't last long either, becoming Shaheen Afridi's lone scalp.
The India captain, promoted to No. 3, looked scratchy at best and was dismissed cheaply for a five-ball single. At 20/3 in four overs, India were not only wobbling, but staring at defeat.
But Tilak Varma (69 not out off 53) and Sanju Samson (24 off 21) steadied the Indian innings with a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket. Samson lost his wicket to Abrar Ahmed in the 13th, and that reignited Pakistan's hopes.
With the required rate climbing and Shivam Dube (33 off 22) taking time to settle in, the game tilted again.
Tilak was unfazed, however. The 22-year-old continued to find gaps and rotate strike. When the Dube holed out in the 19th over, after stitching a 60-run partnership with Tilak, India were within touching distance of the trophy, requiring 10 from the final over.
Rinku Singh, the new man, completed the rituals with a four off Haris Rauf. For the record, the winning runs came off the only ball faced by Rinku in the tournament.
With that, India completed their unbeaten title defence -- a run in which they defeated Pakistan three times. After the Dubai high, Indian Test players will assemble for the upcoming two-match series against the visiting West Indies.
India Vs Pakistan, T20 Asia Cup 2025 Final: Toss Update
India won the toss and chose to field first.
India Vs Pakistan, T20 Asia Cup 2025 Final: Playing XIs
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
India Vs Pakistan, T20 Asia Cup 2025 Final: Live Score
Abhishek Sharma remained the highest run-scorer of the tournament, scoring 314 runs in 7 matches. Kuldeep Yadav shone with the ball, taking 17 wickets in just 7 matches.
