India successfully defended their Asia Cup title in a dramatic five-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai on September 28. Pakistan, initially propelled by Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive fifty, experienced a stunning batting collapse, falling from a dominant 113/1 to a mere 146 all out. This shift in momentum allowed India to seize control, with a resilient unbeaten 69 from Tilak Varma and powerful hitting from Shivam Dube guiding them through early challenges to clinch yet another thrilling India-Pakistan showdown.
From Dubai, the Asia Cup final delivered pure cricketing drama. Despite the off-field theatrics, the match itself stole the spotlight, culminating in a thrilling showdown between India and Pakistan that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. It’s often said that India-Pakistan clashes are not for the faint of heart, and this Sunday’s final certainly lived up to that intense reputation.
Powered by the masterful bowling of Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed an impressive 4 wickets for just 30 runs, and a remarkable unbeaten 69 runs from 53 balls by Tilak Varma, India triumphed over Pakistan by five wickets to lift the 2025 Asia Cup trophy at the iconic Dubai International Stadium.
While India entered the match as favorites, with Pakistan as the clear underdogs, Pakistan delivered a spirited performance, holding the upper hand at several crucial points during the game. Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive 57 runs from just 38 deliveries gave Pakistan a sensational start. However, their innings dramatically unraveled, with nine wickets falling for a mere 33 runs. Pakistan’s bowlers then mirrored this early dominance, quickly dismissing India’s in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and the struggling Suryakumar Yadav within the powerplay, leaving India in a precarious position at 20/3.
The Dubai pitch proved challenging with its two-paced nature, and Pakistan will undoubtedly reflect on their devastating batting collapse as they return to Lahore. That implosion ultimately allowed India, the reigning T20 world champions, to remain in contention and eventually secure another hard-fought victory in the tournament. Facing a challenging chase, India steadied themselves after a wobbly powerplay where they managed 36/3. The composed batting of Tilak Varma, a vital cameo from Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube’s impressive all-round performance — first with the ball and then silencing critics with his bat — ultimately guided India to victory.
Pakistan dominated the initial stages of India’s chase. The early momentum swung their way when Abhishek Sharma, who had been in outstanding form, was dismissed cheaply. After hitting a boundary through cover-point, he fell to Faheem Ashraf’s cunning slower delivery, caught sharply by Haris Rauf at mid-on. Shubman Gill soon followed, miscuing a shot to the same fielder.
Under immense pressure, Tilak Varma strode to the crease and immediately made his intentions clear. In the last over of the powerplay, he fearlessly smashed Faheem for a six and a four, breaking India’s early struggles. However, India faced another hurdle when Sanju Samson, despite being dropped once by Hussain Talat, couldn’t convert his start and was dismissed for 24, edging to backward point off Abrar Ahmed’s bowling.
From then on, India’s innings revolved around Tilak’s blend of aggression and composure. He meticulously balanced careful play with calculated risks, famously slog-sweeping Abrar for a six and expertly finding boundaries with sharp back-foot punches. His impressive 41-ball fifty highlighted his rapidly developing maturity in high-pressure matches. Batting alongside him, Shivam Dube, who had been struggling with his timing earlier in the tournament, finally hit his stride. A confident boundary off Rauf through extra cover boosted his morale, leading to a flurry of big hits. He effortlessly cleared the ropes against Abrar and punished Rauf’s misdirected yorker with a colossal shot over cow corner.
Pakistan’s strategy faced criticism as captain Salman Ali Agha opted for pace bowling after his spinners had effectively contained India. When Haris Rauf was brought back into the attack, India capitalized, scoring freely. Rauf’s fast deliveries proved ineffective on the slow pitch, as both Tilak and Dube comfortably dispatched his predictable lengths. The 13 runs conceded off one Dube over highlighted Pakistan’s tactical error: on this surface, pace was easier to score against, while spin truly presented the greater threat.
Tilak and Dube’s masterclass completely turned the tide, transforming India’s precarious situation into a commanding one. Their crucial partnership not only meticulously rebuilt the innings but also emphatically swung the momentum, leaving Pakistan to lament yet another strategic misstep in a critical game. Dube’s impactful 33 runs from 22 balls came to an end in the final over of the 19th, as he attempted one more six against Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan’s most effective bowler, who finished with commendable figures of 3/29. In a poetic finish, Rinku Singh, stepping in for the injured Hardik Pandya, struck the winning runs to seal the momentous victory.
Earlier in the match, after being sent in to bat, Pakistan suffered a shocking collapse, plummeting from a strong 113/1 after 12.4 overs to being all out for just 146. Despite Farhan’s elegant fifty providing a solid foundation, India’s spinners, expertly supported by Jasprit Bumrah’s death bowling, orchestrated a relentless and decisive turnaround. Varun Chakravarthy initiated the collapse by dismissing Farhan for 57. Kuldeep Yadav, despite an initial expensive spell, made a spectacular comeback, removing Saim Ayub and then dismantling Pakistan’s middle order to finish with outstanding figures of 4/30. Axar Patel also contributed with crucial wickets, sending back Mohammad Haris and Hussain Talat. Fakhar Zaman’s departure further deepened Pakistan’s woes. From a position of undeniable strength, Pakistan rapidly crumbled to 126/4 and then 134/8, a result of both their impulsive shot selection and India’s suffocating spin attack.
Jasprit Bumrah then delivered the final blows, expertly executing his yorkers to dispatch Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz. Pakistan’s innings concluded dramatically in 19.1 overs, their last nine wickets falling for a mere 33 runs. What began with the promise of a formidable total ended as a modest score, attributed directly to Pakistan’s poor shot selection and India’s highly disciplined bowling. This pivotal collapse ultimately enabled India to secure their ninth continental title.