In a dramatic turn of events, India secured the Asia Cup 2025 title, triumphing over arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a gripping final. The spotlight shone brightly on Shivam Dube, who earned the coveted ‘Impact Player’ award for his stellar all-round performance. His contributions, which included vital boundaries and precise bowling, were instrumental in India’s victory.
Impact Player Shivam Dube delivered a crucial all-round performance, securing a memorable win for India in the final.
During the post-match presentation, team physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain had the honor of announcing Dube as the Impact Player. Jain lauded Dube’s ability to adapt to a demanding role, highlighting his effective bowling in the powerplay and his timely boundaries when the team needed them most. “What a day to give this medal. A big day, a big game, a big final and he had to do a slightly different role which the team wanted him to do. From bowling that first over and initial punch to those two crucial overs in the powerplay, and hitting those boundaries exactly when the team required it, today’s impact player – Shivam Dube,” Jain stated.
Dube, reflecting on his pivotal role in India’s title win, was remarkably transparent about the immense pressure he felt. “Bowled the first over, I was under pressure 100%. If I say I wasn’t, I’d be lying. I was very scared as well. But everyone supported me and it went away,” he confessed. His honest admission elicited widespread laughter and appreciation from his teammates, revealing the human side of competitive sport.
The all-rounder showcased exceptional bowling figures, conceding just 12 runs in his two powerplay overs and a total of 23 runs from three overs. Later in the chase, Dube formed a crucial 60-run partnership with Tilak Varma, stabilizing India’s innings after a wobbly start before being dismissed on the final ball of the 19th over.
Earlier in the match, India’s bowlers had successfully restricted Pakistan to a total of 146 runs in 19.1 overs. Despite a strong opening partnership from Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35), Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed dramatically. India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav (4/30), Varun Chakravarthy (2/30), and Axar Patel (2/26) dismantled the middle and lower order, taking nine wickets for only 33 runs. Jasprit Bumrah also contributed significantly with two wickets for 25 runs.
Chasing the target, Tilak Varma anchored India’s innings with an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, leading his team to victory with two balls to spare. This triumph marked India’s third win against Pakistan in this Asia Cup edition and secured their second T20 Asia Cup trophy.