India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a high‑octane Asia Cup 2025 final at Dubai, lifting a record‑extending ninth Asia Cup title in a finish that went down to the last over. Chasing 147, India were steered home by a composed, unbeaten 69 from Tilak Varma, after Kuldeep Yadav’s 4 for 30 and Axar Patel’s 2 for 26 had triggered a dramatic Pakistan collapse from a commanding start to 146 all out. The night ended with on‑field drama around the presentation, but the cricket itself delivered a classic.
Scoreline at a glance
- Pakistan 146 all out in 19.1 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 57, Fakhar Zaman 46; Kuldeep 4/30, Axar 2/26)
- India 150/5 in 19.4 overs (Tilak Varma 69*, Shivam Dube 33; Faheem Ashraf 3/29)
- Result: India won by 5 wickets; Asia Cup champions for the ninth time (and second in T20 format)
How the final unfolded
Pakistan flew out of the blocks with an 84‑run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, setting up what looked like a 170+ platform under lights in Dubai. But India’s spinners flipped the script: Axar’s double strike boxed Pakistan in, and Kuldeep’s single over of three wickets shattered the middle order, as nine wickets fell in the last 10 overs to leave 146 on the board. It was a collapse emblematic of Dubai’s evening grip and India’s control in the middle.
India’s chase wasn’t straightforward. Early pressure made strike rotation vital before Shivam Dube’s 33 off 22 flipped the tempo. The chase hinged on Tilak Varma’s calm against pace variation and spin, picking gaps square and straight, and keeping the asking rate within range. With two balls left in the 20th, India crossed the line for a five‑wicket win. Tilak was named Player of the Final.
Key turning points
- Spin choke at the death: From 107/1 with 44 balls left, Pakistan were bowled out with five deliveries unused—Kuldeep’s 4/30 and Axar’s 2/26 engineered the slide.
- The finishing partnership: Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 and Dube’s burst neutralized Faheem Ashraf’s incisive 3/29 and Shaheen Afridi’s tight 1/20.
- Powerplay vs middle overs: Pakistan dominated early but lost shape against high‑quality spin, while India preserved wickets to cash in late—classic Dubai pattern under lights.
Standout performers
- Tilak Varma: 69* (53) — Player of the Match, held the chase together with composure and strike rotation.
- Kuldeep Yadav: 4/30 (4) — Split the game open with drift and dip, including a three‑wicket over.
- Axar Patel: 2/26 (4) — Pivotal middle‑overs control that forced Pakistan’s batters into risky strokes.
- Sahibzada Farhan: 57 (38) — Set the tone for Pakistan’s innings before the collapse.
- Fakhar Zaman: 46 (35) — Powered the opening stand; Pakistan’s best phase with the bat.
- Faheem Ashraf: 3/29 (4) — Pakistan’s main disruptor with the ball, nearly pulled it back.
Player of the Tournament
Abhishek Sharma finished with 314 runs at a strike rate of 200 across seven matches, repeatedly setting the tone at the top—even though the final spotlight belonged to Tilak. His tournament impact underpinned India’s unbeaten run to the title.
Post‑match scenes
The presentation was marred by controversy around the trophy handover, delaying proceedings and sparking robust reactions from both camps and the crowd. Despite the off‑field drama, India’s players savored the title on the ground, celebrating a tense, high‑quality victory over arch‑rivals in a historic first India‑Pakistan Asia Cup final. Full replay streams and extended highlights captured both the cricketing thriller and the charged atmosphere.
Why India won
- Middle‑overs mastery: Axar and Kuldeep throttled scoring and forced errors, turning an 80+ opening stand into a below‑par total.
- Composure in the chase: A wicket‑saving approach that enabled a controlled finish, with Tilak’s temperament the decisive edge.
- Death‑overs clarity: Bowlers hit roles cleanly; batters maximized the last four overs without panic, matching the venue’s dew‑influenced trend.
For full scorecards, ball‑by‑ball commentary, and highlights, match reports and live hubs provide complete coverage and context of this final.
