The Asia Cup 2025 final is officially set to feature India, who clinched their spot with a dominant 41-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Fours clash held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This decisive result also means the end of the road for Sri Lanka in the tournament, leaving Pakistan and Bangladesh to battle it out for the coveted second spot in the final showdown.
Batting first, India put up a competitive total of 168 for 6 within their allotted 20 overs. The innings was powered by a sensational performance from Abhishek Sharma, who blasted an impressive 75 runs off just 37 balls. He was well-supported by Hardik Pandya’s crucial 38 runs. Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to make significant inroads, with only Saif Hassan maintaining some control during his two overs.
In response, Bangladesh was bowled out for 127 runs in 19.3 overs. India’s bowling attack proved formidable, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, who took 2 wickets for just 18 runs. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy were also instrumental, bagging three and two wickets respectively. Axar Patel contributed with a vital breakthrough, helping India seal their victory with three balls to spare.
Qualification Scenarios Unpacked:
India: With an impeccable record of two wins from two matches in the Super Fours stage, India currently sits comfortably at the top of the table with four points and a commanding net run rate of +1.357. Their place in the final is now guaranteed, irrespective of the outcome of their final Super Fours game against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, consecutive losses in their opening Super Fours fixtures have sealed their elimination from the tournament. Their upcoming match against India on Friday will, therefore, serve purely as a formality, having no bearing on the final qualification race.
Pakistan’s Path to an India Rematch:
All eyes now turn to Thursday’s crucial encounter between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which has effectively become a virtual semi-final. Both teams are currently tied with two points from their two matches. However, Pakistan holds a slight advantage due to a superior net run rate. The victor of this high-stakes match will earn the right to face India in the grand finale, while the losing side will be knocked out.
Here’s a quick look at the current Super Fours standings:
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.357 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.226 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.969 |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.590 |