India has done it again. The Men in Blue won the 2025 Asia Cup by beating Pakistan in a tense final at the Dubai International Stadium. They chased down 147 runs and won their ninth Asia Cup trophy with five wickets to spare.
The match had everything—bright batting starts, a sudden collapse, a slow rebuild, and a dramatic finish. Fans in the stands and millions watching at home saw a contest that swung back and forth before India took control.
Early advantage to Pakistan
Pakistan got a great start after India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first. The openers Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) played aggressively. Their partnership of 84 runs set Pakistan up for a big total.
At one point, Pakistan were cruising at 113/2 in the 13th over. But the story changed very quickly. India’s spinners found grip and rhythm. Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) spun through the middle order, while Axar Patel (2/26) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/30) struck at key times. Jasprit Bumrah also chipped in with two wickets.
The collapse was shocking. From 113/2, Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 33 runs. Their innings ended at 146 in 19.1 overs.
India stumble in reply
India’s chase looked shaky right from the start. The top order collapsed in the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma (5), Shubman Gill (12), and captain Suryakumar Yadav (1) all departed cheaply. By the fourth over, the scoreboard read just 20/3. Fans feared another batting collapse. But this time, India’s middle order held firm.
Tilak Varma guides the chase
Young left-hander Tilak Varma showed calmness beyond his age. His knock of 69 from 53 balls was steady, composed, and decisive. He worked singles, punished short balls, and made sure India didn’t fall too far behind the asking rate.
Tilak found support from two partners
- Sanju Samson (24 off 21) joined him for a 57-run stand that calmed things down.
- Later, Shivam Dube (33 off 22) batted aggressively, ensuring India stayed ahead. Their 60-run partnership sealed the deal.
In the end, with two balls left in the 20th over, Rinku Singh smashed the winning boundary. Remarkably, it was the only ball he faced in the entire tournament.
India wins Asia Cup 2025: Stars of the tournament
This Asia Cup highlighted India’s depth and fresh talent.
- Abhishek Sharma: Player of the Tournament (314 runs at a strike rate of 200).
- Tilak Varma: Player of the Final (69 runs in pressure chase).
- Kuldeep Yadav: Best Bowler of the Tournament (17 wickets in 7 matches).
- Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy: Consistent performers throughout.
A win beyond cricket
The final carried political undertones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on X, writing:
“#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
Outcome is the same - India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
But controversy soon followed. The Indian team refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The refusal was a continuation of India’s stand during the tournament, where they avoided handshakes with Pakistani players and officials.
Adding to the drama, Pakistani players stayed inside their dressing room for almost an hour after the defeat.
Final Scorecard snapshot
Pakistan innings:
- 146 all out in 19.1 overs.
- Top scorers: Farhan 57, Zaman 46.
- The best bowlers were Kuldeep (4/30), Bumrah (2/25), Axar (2/26), and Varun Chakravarthy (2/30).
- 150 runs in 19.4 overs for India.
- The highest scores were 69 from Tilak Varma and 33 from Shivam Dube.
- Pakistan’s bowlers: Shaheen Afridi 1/20, Faheem Ashraf 3/29, and Abrar Ahmad 1/29
Result: India won by 5 wickets.
Why these matters for India
The victory gave India their ninth Asia Cup crown and strengthened their confidence ahead of the World T20. Even with early failures from Abhishek, Shubman, and Suryakumar, the younger players stood tall under pressure.
This win was also proof of India’s bowling balance. Spinners and pacers both contributed to choking Pakistan’s scoring and turning the match.
A night to remember
For Indian fans at home and abroad, this was more than a trophy. Fireworks lit up the streets, fans danced with tricolors, and there were a lot of posts on social media celebrating.
The final showed that cricket is still the most important thing in the subcontinent. India’s mix of young and old players worked perfectly on the big stage. For now, the message is clear: India wins Asia Cup once again, and they remain Asia’s cricketing giants.
Part with Questions and Answers
Q1. Who won the final of the Asia Cup in 2025?
India won by five wickets over Pakistan.
Q2. Who did the best in the final?
Tilak Varma got 69 runs and was named the Player of the Final.
Q3. Who won Player of the Tournament?
Abhishek Sharma scored 314 runs at a strike rate of 200.
Q4. How did Pakistan lose after a good start?
Kuldeep Yadav and the other Indian bowlers were too much for them, and they fell from 113/2 to 146 all out.
