India Clinch Asia Cup 2025 Title After Thrilling Final Against Pakistan
Dubai – September 28, 2025:
India edged past Pakistan by five wickets in a nail-biting finale to claim the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 147, India recovered from a shaky start to seal victory with just two balls remaining. Tilak Varma stood tall with a match-winning 69* off 53 balls, while Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket burst (4/30) dismantled Pakistan’s middle order.
Put in to bat, Pakistan’s openers gave a flying start. Sahibzada Farhan hammered 57 off 38 and Fakhar Zaman added 46 off 35, lifting their side to 84 without loss. However, once Varun Chakravarthy broke the stand, Kuldeep’s spin brilliance triggered a dramatic collapse. Pakistan slumped from 113/1 to 134/8, eventually bowled out for 146 in 19.1 overs.
India’s reply began nervously as Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi ripped through the top order, leaving India reeling at 20/3. But Tilak Varma held firm, stitching crucial partnerships — 57 with Sanju Samson (24) and 60 with Shivam Dube (33 off 22) — to guide India home at 147/5.
With the win, India extended their record, lifting the Asia Cup for the ninth time.
Despite the loss, Pakistan’s openers impressed, though the middle-order collapse proved costly. Historically, this was the sixth time India and Pakistan clashed in a tournament final, with Pakistan still leading the head-to-head record 3–3.
