India Stays Unstoppable, Outplays Pakistan To Lift 9th Asia Cup Title
India vs Pakistan Final Highlights: India clinches Asia Cup 2025 title! Tilak Varma leads the way in final, top-scoring for Men in Blue.
Background
Since the now-infamous handshake controversy on September 14, India-Pakistan clash has transformed into something far larger than cricket. When the two sides meet in Dubai on September 28 for the...More
India beat Pakistan in the final to win the Asia Cup by 5 wickets.
Tilak Varma delivers under pressure! Massive six!
India need 2 off 4 balls
Bowled wide, short, Shivam Dube moves closer and hits a four to mid wicket!
India - 137/4 in 18.4 overs.
Faheem Ashraf cramps up twice in his run-up. A short break in innings at the moment.
India need 17 off 12 balls to win the Asia Cup trophy.
Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma have recorded a 53-run partership with that six. Vital for India.
India - 130/4 after 18 overs.
They need 18 in 12 balls.
Haris Rauf is bowling wide to the Indian batsmen, the runs are down, the required rate is up
Leading edge falls just short of a fielder. Alarm bells ringing for Shivam Dube.
A hard fought half century for Tilak Varma under massive pressure.
India - 111/4 after 16 overs.
Shivam Dube miscues one, but the ball lands just short of the fielder.
A six off the very first ball!
India - 106/4 after 15.1
Tilak Varma ends the over with a six, and India reach the 100-run mark.
The score is 100/4 after 15 overs.
Tilak Varma just makes it past the crease! Survives a very close run out attempt.
India - 83/4 after 14 overs.
The required run rate for India is 10.2 now. The chase gets challenging.
Excellent over for Pakistan, only 2 runs and a wicket.
India - 78/4
The pressure takes toll on Sanju Samson, miscues one off Abrar.
India - 77/4
India 76/3 after 12 overs. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma rebuilding for the Men in Blue.
Sanju Samson continues the chase with a huge six off Saim Ayub.
India - 76/3 after 11.5 overs.
India 69/3 after 11 overs. A productive over for the Men in Blue.
Tilak Varma takes on Abrar Ahmad, hits him for a flat six, takes a single on the next ball.
India - 67/3 after 10.4 overs.
India stand at 58/3 mid-way in the innings.
They need 89 runs in 60 balls now.
Low risk, strike rotation is the motto for the Men in Blue at the moment.
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma bring India to 50/3 after 8.1 overs.
Sanju Samson hits a four towards mid-wicket!
India - 48/3 after 7.3 overs.
Haris Rauf has been called into action as Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma look to build momentum.
Tilak Varma sweeps Mohammad Nawaz for a four!
India - 40/3 after 6.2 overs.
Tilak Varma whacks Faheem Ashraf for a huge six!
India - 35/3 after 5.4 overs.
Tilak Varma now with a cover drive to the boundary ropes!
India - 29/3 after 5.3 overs.
Sanju Samson ends the 5th over with a four off a textbook cover drive.
India - 25/3.
All Indian wickets have come from relatively slower balls. Variations in play for Pakistani quick bowlers.
Pakistan are all over the India, Gill departs.
India 20/3 after 4 overs.
Shubman Gill whacks Faheem Ashraf for a four to release the pressure.
India - 20/2 after 3.5 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav has departed at just 1 run! Brilliant low catch by the Pakistani captain.
Faheem Ashraf has delivered a brilliant over so far. Only 1 run off it.
India - 8/1 after 1.4 overs.
Shaheen Afridi has replied with two sharp deliveries, India only 4 after 4 balls.
Abhishek Sharma yet again with a boundary to start the Indian innings!
Bumrah strikes in the final over! Mohammad Nawaz skies one to deep mid-wicket and is caught by Rinku Singh. Pakistan all out for 146 in 19.1 overs. India’s bowlers dominated with Kuldeep Yadav picking up 4 wickets earlier.
Pakistan limps to 141/9 after 18 overs, struggling to rebuild after a late collapse.
Bumrah strikes! Haris Rauf is bowled for 6 off 4 deliveries, leaving Pakistan reeling at 141/9 in 17.5 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav has been a nightmare for Pakistan. In ODIs, 15 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 14 and economy of 3.88; in T20Is, 8 wickets in 3 games at 9.87 with an economy of 6.58.
Pakistan reel at 134 for 8 after 17 overs, struggling to rebuild amid India’s relentless bowling pressure.
Shaheen Afridi walked out looking to attack every ball, aiming to clear Kuldeep over the leg-side, but India’s leg-spinner outsmarted him completely.
Kuldeep strikes again! Shaheen Afridi is trapped LBW, giving India their sixth wicket for just 21 runs. Pakistan now reeling at 134/7 in 16.4 overs.
India immediately takes a review after the LBW appeal is turned down. Replays show it’s clearly hitting in line, with no glove or bat interference.
Kuldeep Yadav strikes again! Salman Agha miscues a shot and Sanju Samson pulls off a stunning catch, diving full stretch. Pakistan reeling at 133/6. Shaheen Afridi joins the crease.
Axar Patel produces a match-turning spell, conceding only 26 runs in 4 overs while claiming two crucial wickets. India gains the upper hand.
Pakistan struggles as India dominates the last few overs. After 16 overs, Pakistan is 133/5, having scored just 35 runs while losing 4 wickets in the last 5 overs.
Axar continues the assault! Hussain Talat edges one to Samson and is gone for just 1. Pakistan now 131/5 in 15.3 overs.
From overs 12-15, India strikes thrice! Pakistan crosses 100 in the 12th, loses Saim, Haris, and Fakhar in quick succession. Five overs left, two for Bumrah.
Pakistan reaches 128/4 after 15 overs, with Fakhar Zaman back in the pavilion and Salman Agha at the crease.
Just after a huge six, Fakhar Zaman falls! Caught by Kuldeep off Varun Chakaravarthy, Pakistan now 126/4.
Varun Chakaravarthy concedes a big one! Fakhar Zaman smashes a six, taking Pakistan to 126/3.
Pakistan moves to 118/3 as Salman Agha steps in to bat, joining Fakhar Zaman at the crease.
Axar Patel delivers a crucial breakthrough! Mohammad Haris is caught by Rinku Singh for a duck, Pakistan now 114/3.
After Kuldeep strikes, Pakistan moves to 113/2. Mohammad Haris walks in to join Fakhar Zaman at the crease.
Kuldeep Yadav breaks through! Saim Ayub is caught by Bumrah for 14 off 11 balls after surviving a few early cuts in the over. Pakistan loses their second wicket. PAK 113/2 (12.5)
Suryakumar Yadav steps in for a quick chat with Kuldeep, offering some calm and guidance to steady him under pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav struggles for line and length, bowling a wide to Fakhar Zaman, his second of the over. Pressure is showing as he tries to contain the left-hander.
Kuldeep Yadav returns for the 13th over after a tidy 12th from Tilak Varma, who conceded just 9 runs. Time for Kuldeep to make an impact.
Pakistan continues their steady progress, reaching 107/1 after 12 overs as Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman keep the scoreboard ticking.
Over Summary (7-11):
Pakistan reach their fifty in the 7th over as Kuldeep concedes 11 runs in his first over.
Farhan keeps finding boundaries, scoring back-to-back fifties against India, this one off 35 balls.
Kuldeep remains expensive, leaking 24 runs in his first two overs.
Farhan departs for 57, holed out at deep mid-wicket off a short delivery from Varun. Shivam Dube returns for his second spell but concedes two fours in his third over.
Tilak Varma, right-arm off-break, comes into the attack. With only five bowlers available, India relies heavily on their batting lineup to make an impact.
An expensive over from Shivam Dube as Saim Ayub takes advantage, smashing runs freely. Pakistan moves to 98/1 after 11 overs.
Saim Ayub punishes Shivam Dube in an expensive 11th over. Pakistan moves to 98/1, keeping the momentum firmly in their favor.
Pakistan’s powerplay run-rate of 7.5 today remains the lowest among Super Four teams, well behind India’s 11.39. India hits a boundary roughly every three balls, while Pakistan takes 6.5 balls on average to reach one.
Pakistan’s 84-run opening stand sets a new record for a five-plus team tournament final among full-member nations, surpassing the 48-run partnership of Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan in the 2009 T20 World Cup final at Lord’s.
During the drinks break, Gambhir is on the field, but Suryakumar Yadav leads an animated huddle with the team. Later, Gambhir shares a quick one-on-one chat with Sky. Pakistan is 87/1 after 10 overs.
Saim Ayub, the left-handed batter, walks in as Pakistan approaches the drinks break. Pakistan has made an excellent start, losing just one wicket while keeping the pressure on India. With Farhan gone, India looks to regain control, and Suryakumar Yadav is seen animatedly rallying his team in the huddle. PAK 84/1 (10)
Finally, India gets the breakthrough! Varun Chakaravarthy dismisses Sahibzada Farhan, caught brilliantly by Tilak Varma. Farhan, who scored 57 off 38 balls and had just hit a six, walks back frustrated after trying for another big shot.
After a quiet start to the 10th over with just 1 run off two balls, Sahibzada Farhan dispatches Varun Chakaravarthy for a massive six over long-on. Farhan clearly favors that region, punishing any width with ease.
Varun Chakravarthy returns to the attack after a tight previous over, having conceded just 5 runs in his first spell. India looks to him to break the opening partnership.
After 9 overs, Pakistan continues its flawless start, reaching 77/0. The openers, Farhan and Zaman, keep the scoreboard ticking with aggressive yet controlled batting.
Sahibzada Farhan brings up his fifty with a quick two off Kuldeep Yadav. This marks his second half-century against India in the Asia Cup 2025. Unlike before, he celebrates quietly this time.
After 8 overs, Pakistan remains unbeaten at 64/0. Sahibzada Farhan leads the charge with 47 off 33 balls, while Fakhar Zaman supports with 15 runs off 15 deliveries.
Pakistan’s openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, have dominated the last five overs, scoring 46 runs without losing a wicket. Their 59-run partnership off 45 balls has set a strong platform for Pakistan.
Kuldeep Yadav finishes the 7th over on a high note, as Sahibzada Farhan smashes a six off the final ball. Pakistan continues to capitalize on loose deliveries, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Farhan in full flow – Pakistan 56/0 after 7 overs.
Over Summary (1–6):
Shivam Dube opens the bowling, conceding just one four in his first over.
Bumrah’s first over sees Farhan mostly miss but manages a four.
Third over produces four singles and a four; Pakistan 19/0.
Farhan takes on Bumrah again, smashing a four and a six.
Varun Chakravarthy keeps it tight, giving away only 5 runs.
Bumrah skips a three-over spell in the powerplay.
Axar Patel concedes 8 runs in his first over, maintaining pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav’s role becomes pivotal in this match. With India’s bowling attack looking thin, his four overs could be the game-changer, potentially swinging momentum in either team’s favor.
Axar Patel delivers a tidy over, conceding just 8 runs as Pakistan maintains a steady start. India relies on their spinners to control the run flow.
Since Hardik Pandya is ruled out, the key question arises: should India play Arshdeep Singh or strengthen the batting lineup? Playing Arshdeep would make India’s batting fragile without Hardik’s all-round abilities. The real choice is between maintaining a balanced batting order with an extra all-rounder or including an additional bowler.
After 5 overs, Pakistan remain unbeaten at 37/0. The openers continue to keep India’s bowlers under control while maintaining a healthy run rate.
Varun Chakravarthy, India’s right-arm leg-spinner, is introduced into the attack. Pakistan have made a solid start, scoring at 8 runs per over without losing a wicket. India are playing just two pacers and relying on their spin duo to apply pressure. Pakistan are 36/0 after 4.5 overs.
After 4 overs, Pakistan remain unbeaten at 32/0. The openers have rotated the strike well and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Sahibzada Farhan appears to tweak his shoulder while completing that quick single, but the physio has checked him and he’s ready to continue. Jasprit Bumrah now bowls around the wicket to Fakhar Zaman. Pakistan are 31/0 after 3.5 overs.
Sahibzada Farhan singles off Bumrah’s very full delivery on off-stump, close to a yorker. He pushes it to mid-off and races to the other end, comfortably beating Suryakumar Yadav’s direct hit. Pakistan move along steadily.
Sahibzada Farhan smashes his first six of the over! Bumrah bowls a slower ball at 122.9 km/h, right in the slot, and Farhan clears long-off with ease. Pakistan reach 30/0 after 3.4 overs, with Farhan dominating Bumrah for the third time in two games.
Jasprit Bumrah concedes a boundary! Sahibzada Farhan takes on the pace, connecting with a short-of-length delivery at 140.7 km/h and pulling it past long-on for four. Pakistan move to 23/0 after 3.2 overs.
All-rounder Shivam Dube has impressed with the new ball, delivering two economical overs. Though he conceded a boundary off the final delivery, he has largely kept the batters in check. After 3 overs, Pakistan are 19 without loss.
Ravi Shastri confirms on commentary that Hardik Pandya will miss the match after picking up a quadricep injury.
Shivam Dube continues with his second over. Fakhar Zaman drives a fuller ball towards mid-off for a quick single. Pakistan 13/0 in 2.2 overs.
Pakistan off to a steady start - they reach 11 without loss at the end of 2 overs. Openers showing early composure.
A disciplined start from India continues - just a single run conceded off the first three balls of the 2nd over. Pakistan remain steady at 5/0 after 1.4 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah, right-arm fast, comes into the attack to bowl second over.
Shivam Dube made a neat start with the new ball, despite this being his first time opening the bowling in international cricket. He kept things under control except for that one loose delivery that went for four.
Encouragingly, there was some swing on offer, and what stood out even more was his pace. Dube has been clocking in the low 130s throughout this tournament, a noticeable uptick from his usual speeds.
PAK 4/0 (1): India’s choice to bowl first could work in Pakistan’s favor. If Pakistan manage to put up a total above 180 and strike early by removing Abhishek Sharma, the game could tilt their way. However, had Pakistan been forced to chase under pressure, the advantage would have strongly shifted to India, given their superior batting depth and form in run-chases.
After four dot balls, Sahibzada Farhan finally finds the boundary! Shivam Dube delivers full and outside off at 132.3 km/h, and Farhan drives it away for four. Pakistan are off the mark at 4/0 in 0.5 overs.
Pakistan’s openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman walk out to the middle. Farhan takes strike, while Shivam Dube starts proceedings with the new ball for India. PAK 0/0 (0.4)
India - Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan - Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Hardik Pandya misses out the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final.
Rinku Singh replaces him in the playing XI.
India's captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has won the toss, and chosen to bowl first.
Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has had a mixed Asia Cup 2025 so far.
In the Sri Lanka match, he was expensive, struggling with his line and length. However, he bounced back in the Super Over, conceding just two runs and taking two crucial wickets, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. Selecting him for the final will be a key decision for Team India.
Every moment has been building up to this. The tournament began amid calls to boycott the India vs Pakistan match, but now all eyes are on Suryakumar Yadav’s team, with fans hoping for an Indian victory. And it’s easy to see why—Team India has proven to be the far stronger and more consistent side throughout the tournament.
While the weather forecast for Dubai is clear, the Asian Cricket Council has kept a reserve day (September 29) for the final.
If the match cannot be completed on the scheduled day, it will resume or be replayed the following day. However, if even the reserve day fails to produce a result, then India and Pakistan will share the Asia Cup trophy as joint champions.
India’s two earlier wins over Pakistan in this tournament will count for little, as the pressure of a title clash is unlike any other. Both teams know that in a high-stakes final, the margin for error is razor-thin.
In the end, it will come down to composure. The side that keeps its nerve and makes fewer mistakes will walk away as the Asia Cup 2025 champions.
For the very first time in Asia Cup history, India and Pakistan will face each other in a final. Over the past three weeks, their encounters have dominated headlines - not just for cricketing reasons but also for the controversies off the field.
From the handshake dispute to boycotted press conferences and even ICC interventions, this rivalry has had it all.
Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya/Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Probable XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.