In the final of the 2025 Asia Cup at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, India defeated Pakistan by five wickets, becoming the new Asian cricket champion. This was the third consecutive defeat for Pakistan by India in the same tournament.
This is the ninth occasion on which the Indian cricket team lifted the title of Asia Cup winners.
Tilak Varma emerged as the hero for India, who made an unbeaten 69 runs, thrashing the Pakistan bowlers.
India chased the target of 147 runs in the last over. Haris Rauf was found to be the most expensive bowler in the match – he conceded 50 runs in 3.4 overs without taking a single wicket.
After losing three early wickets, Tilak Verma and Shivam Dube had a momentous partnership that lifted their team to victory.
The Indian cricket team remained unbeaten in the whole tournament. Their dazzling class and consistency made them invincible and indubious crown of Asian cricket.
In the first innings, Indian bowlers had already shattered Pakistan’s batting line-up as Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets. Apart from Farhaan, Fakhar, and Saim, no other Pakistan batsman could enter the double figures.
After a smooth and steady start by the openers, Sahibzada Farhaan and Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s middle order proved to be a wall of dust, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs – the disastrous spectacle of the historic final.
Sahibzada Farhaan made 57 runs on 38 deliveries, while Fakhar Zaman added 46 runs. Saim Ayub managed to survive the duck but couldn’t pass the mark of 14 runs.
The whole Pakistan team was all-out on just 146 runs with five balls remaining of the last over.
Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav grabbed four wickets, dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup. Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah also took a couple of wickets each.
Despite reaching the final of the tournament, Pakistan’s overall performance remained questionable, especially in the batting, with the most vulnerable middle order.
Saim Ayub, who had been placed third in the line after failing as an opener, suffered five ducks in a single contest. Muhammad Haris, Hussain Talat, Hassan Nawaz, and Captain Agha Salman flopped as batters with no substantial performance to their name.
It was the first time that the cricket arch-rivals – Pakistan and India – were facing each other in the 41-year history of the Asia Cup.
Team Pakistan decided to retain the winning combination as the rumors to drop Saim Ayub have been set aside.
Rinku Singh made his place in the Indian side, replacing Hardik Pandya.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said that both teams will be under equal pressure and that Pakistan will enter the field aiming for victory.
He added that the final decision about the playing XI will be made after assessing the pitch conditions.
In the Asia Cup, India has a dominant record. Out of 20 encounters, Pakistan has won only six, while India has claimed 12 victories.
In 15 ODI-format matches, India has won 8 and Pakistan 5. In T20 matches, India has won 4 out of 5, with Pakistan winning just one.
At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India has also had the edge, winning 3 out of 5 matches, with Pakistan winning the other two.
