India secured a dramatic victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28, 2025, chasing down 147 to claim their ninth Asia Cup title (eighth in T20 format). This was the first-ever India-Pakistan final in the tournament’s 41-year history, following India’s earlier wins over Pakistan in the group stage (7 wickets on Sep 14) and Super Fours (6 wickets on Sep 21).
Pakistan, batting first after India won the toss and elected to field, started strongly, reaching 113/2 after 11.3 overs with an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan (50 off 35; 4×4, 3×6) and Fakhar Zaman (14 off 14; 2×4). However, a shocking collapse ensued, losing 8 wickets for 33 runs as India’s spinners dominated. Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) was the star, taking four wickets including a near-hat-trick (three in quick succession). Varun Chakaravarthy (2/28), Axar Patel (2/27), and Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) shared the spoils, bowling Pakistan out for 146 in 19.1 overs—their lowest T20I total in a final.
India’s chase faltered early, slipping to 20/3 after 3.6 overs with Shaheen Afridi (1/20) and Faheem Ashraf (3/29) striking. Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 (53 balls; 5×4, 3×6) rescued the innings, forming a crucial 57-run fourth-wicket stand with Sanju Samson (24 off 21; 2×4, 1×6) and a 60-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shivam Dube (33 off 22; 3×4, 1×6). Rinku Singh (4* off 1; 1×4) hit the winning boundary off Haris Rauf (0/50) in the final over. Tilak Varma was Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, while Abhishek Sharma was Player of the Series for his consistent performances. Kuldeep Yadav topped the tournament wicket-takers with 12 scalps.
India finished unbeaten (5-0), extending their T20I head-to-head dominance over Pakistan to 12-3. Pakistan (3-2 overall) showed fight but were undone by their middle-order collapse, marking their second consecutive final loss.
Toss and Playing XIsToss: India won and elected to field first (to assess the pitch and benefit from dew in the chase).
India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
(Impact Player: Washington Sundar—not used.)
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.
(Impact Player: Iftikhar Ahmed—not used.)
Pakistan Innings: 146 all out (19.1 overs)
Pakistan’s promising start dissolved into a spin-induced meltdown, with Kuldeep’s variations proving lethal.
BatsmanDismissalRunsBalls4s6sSRSahibzada Farhanc Tilak Varma b Varun Chakaravarthy503543142.86Fakhar Zamanc Sanju Samson b Kuldeep Yadav141420100.00Saim Ayubc Kuldeep Yadav b Varun Chakaravarthy101010100.00Salman Agha (c)c Sanju Samson b Axar Patel10810125.00Mohammad Haris (wk)c Rinku Singh b Axar Patel5500100.00Hussain Talatc Sanju Samson b Jasprit Bumrah01000.00Faheem Ashrafc Tilak Varma b Kuldeep Yadav161311123.08Mohammad Nawazb Kuldeep Yadav01000.00Abrar Ahmedc Gill b Jasprit Bumrah01000.00Shaheen Afridic Suryakumar Yadav b Kuldeep Yadav8710114.29Haris Raufnot out0000-Extras(lb 2, w 31)33—-Total146 all out (19.1 overs)1047.61 RPO
Fall of Wickets: 84/1 (Fakhar Zaman, 9.4 ov), 113/2 (Sahibzada Farhan, 11.2 ov), 113/3 (Saim Ayub, 11.3 ov), 118/4 (Salman Agha, 12.2 ov), 123/5 (Mohammad Haris, 13.1 ov), 123/6 (Hussain Talat, 13.2 ov), 136/7 (Faheem Ashraf, 16.2 ov), 136/8 (Mohammad Nawaz, 16.3 ov), 146/9 (Abrar Ahmed, 18.6 ov), 146/10 (Shaheen Afridi, 19.1 ov).
Key Highlights: Powerplay: 50/0. Collapse: 33/9 from 113/2 (Pakistan’s worst in a T20I final). Farhan’s 50 off 35; Kuldeep’s spell: 4/11 in 16 balls (three in seven balls).
watch…..India Triumphs in Thrilling Super Over at Asia Cup 2025
India Bowling:
BowlerOversMaidensRunsWicketsEconKuldeep Yadav403047.50Jasprit Bumrah402426.00Varun Chakaravarthy402827.00Axar Patel402726.75Shivam Dube302508.33
India Innings: 150/5 (19.4 overs, target 147)
A top-order wobble gave way to Tilak’s heroics, ensuring a successful chase under pressure.
BatsmanDismissalRunsBalls4s6sSRAbhishek Sharmac Iftikhar Ahmed b Faheem Ashraf561083.33Shubman Gillc Mohammad Haris b Shaheen Afridi121020120.00Suryakumar Yadav (c)c Salman Agha b Abrar Ahmed150020.00Tilak Varmanot out69*5353130.19Sanju Samson (wk)c Mohammad Haris b Faheem Ashraf242121114.29Shivam Dubec Sahibzada Farhan b Faheem Ashraf332231150.00Rinku Singhnot out4*110400.00Extras(lb 2, w 0)2—-Total150/5 (19.4 overs)1467.69 RPO
Fall of Wickets: 7/1 (Abhishek Sharma, 1.1 ov), 10/2 (Suryakumar Yadav, 2.3 ov), 20/3 (Shubman Gill, 3.6 ov), 77/4 (Sanju Samson, 12.2 ov), 137/5 (Shivam Dube, 18.6 ov).
Key Highlights: Powerplay: 35/3. Tilak-Samson: 57-run stand; Tilak-Dube: 60-run stand. Tilak’s 50 off 36 balls; final over: 6 off 6 (Tilak: 1-1-4-1-4-W).
Pakistan Bowling:
BowlerOversMaidensRunsWicketsEconShaheen Afridi402015.00Faheem Ashraf402937.25Haris Rauf3.4050013.89Abrar Ahmed402917.25Saim Ayub301605.33Mohammad Nawaz10606.00
Match Context and Key Notes
Series Impact: India (7-0) unbeaten champions; third straight title. Pakistan (3-2) second final loss in a row—middle-order woes continue.
Milestones: Tilak’s 69* highest in T20 Asia Cup final chase. Kuldeep’s 4/30 best figures in a final (three in seven balls). Pakistan’s 33/9 collapse worst in Asia Cup finals.
Post-Match Buzz: Shubman Gill: “Tilak’s knock was a masterclass in chase.” Salman Agha: “Spin choked us—valuable lesson.”
