Tilak Varma’s undefeated innings was crucial in the tournament’s dramatic climax as India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win their ninth Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. After defeating Pakistan in all three meetings, including the group stage and Super Four matches on September 14 and September 21, respectively, India now has a perfect record against them in this tournament.
Pakistani openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman laid a strong foundation with an 84-run partnership in 9 overs before being split apart after India won the toss and chose to field first. But after that, Pakistan’s innings stalled and they were eventually bowled out for 146 runs in the final over, giving India a manageable victory mark of 147 runs. As Pakistan’s bowlers, headed by Faheem Ashraf, struck frequently, India lost early wickets and collapsed to 20/3 in the fourth over of their chase.
Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill were supposed to steady the innings, but Gill’s dismissal while trying to clear the infield put India in a vulnerable position. Varma and Sanju Samson forged an important 57-run partnership that rekindled Indian aspirations. Sanju Samson was out of the game in the thirteenth over. The equation was reduced to 36 runs from the final four overs when Shivam Dube arrived, as he and Tilak Varma combined to score 28 runs off the 15th and 16th overs.Tilak Varma remained undefeated at 69 runs from 53, stole the Asia Cup in spectacular fashion in the final six overs, and led India home with two balls left as the pair remained composed in the closing stages. Indian cricket fans will remember his brilliance and temperament for years to come, as demonstrated by his game-winning knock. Let’s hear from the Indian fans in Dubai who were ecstatic about this win. The cricket community couldn’t help but congratulate India on their eighth Asia Cup victory, setting a new record.
Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the ACC and the interior minister of Pakistan, stood clumsily on stage during the post-match ceremonies, causing confusion. The Indian team refused to participate in the presentation, and as a result, the trophy was taken off the field without the customary joyous handover. In addition to announcing his intention to donate all of his Asia Cup 2025 match fees to the Indian Army during the post-match press conference, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav also reflected on what he called an extraordinary situation in which “a champion team is denied to get a trophy” despite their hard-earned tournament victory, something he had never seen in his cricket career.
Yadav insisted throughout the press conference that the team’s undefeated record and the combined efforts of players like Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Sanju Samson embodied the real meaning of their success, adding that the display of “India Asia Cup 2025 Champions” on screens throughout the venue was sufficient proof of their historic ninth Asia Cup victory. As a prelude to the 50-over World Cup on the same calendar year, the Asia Cup will return in 2027 and be played in the ODI format.
In addition to wishing Team India further success in the future, President Droupadi Murmu congratulated them for winning the Asia Cup cricket event in Dubai. President Murmu congratulated Team India on their victory in the Asia Cup cricket event in a social media post. She hoped that Team India will continue to win.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan to Operation Sindoor, stating that the result was the same and that India prevailed. The Prime Minister wrote, Operation Sindoor on the game field, in a social media post. The result is the same: India prevails! Congratulations to our cricket players.
