India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in a tense, low-scoring thriller to lift the Asia Cup 2025 trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.1 The final was defined by a spectacular bowling collapse by Pakistan, masterminded by India’s spinners, and a heroic, calculated chase anchored by young batsman Tilak Varma.2
The victory cements India’s dominance in the tournament, having gone unbeaten and securing their third win over Pakistan in this single edition.
Pakistan Innings: Spinners Trigger Catastrophic Collapse
Pakistan, after being asked to bat first, began their innings solidly, with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman building a strong foundation.3
- Solid Start: Farhan (57 off 38 balls) and Zaman (46 off 35 balls) shared a commanding 84-run opening partnership.4 Pakistan were cruising, positioned at one stage at 113/1 and looking set for a formidable total well over 170.5
- The Turning Point: The momentum shifted decisively when India introduced their spin attack. The duo of left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, supported by the economical Axar Patel, triggered a collapse of epic proportions.6
- Wickets Tumble: Pakistan dramatically lost 9 wickets for just 33 runs, falling from 113/1 to be all-out for 146 in 19.1 overs.7
- Bowling Heroics: Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer, ripping through the middle and lower order with brilliant figures of 4/30.8 He was ably assisted by Jasprit Bumrah (2/25), Varun Chakravarthy (2/30), and Axar Patel (2/26).9 Bumrah applied the final touch, cleaning up the tail.10
India’s Chase: The Varma-Dube Rescue Act
Chasing a modest, yet challenging, target of 147 in a high-pressure final, India’s innings got off to a disastrous start against Pakistan’s fiery pace attack.
- Early Jitters: India stumbled badly in the Powerplay, losing top-order batsmen Abhishek Sharma (5), Captain Suryakumar Yadav (1), and Shubman Gill (12) cheaply to leave the chase in serious trouble.11
- The Partnership: With the score reeling, the young duo of Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson began the repair job.12 Varma took on the responsibility, showing great composure to anchor the innings.13 The partnership with Samson (24) stabilized the ship.14
- The Decisive Stand: After Samson’s dismissal, Tilak Varma found a crucial ally in Shivam Dube.15 The pair unleashed a timely counter-attack, striking boundaries to bring the required rate down.16 Varma brought up a crucial half-century (69 off 50 balls), keeping India in the hunt.
- Tense Finish: The match came down to the wire. With 10 runs needed off the final over and Dube (33) having just been dismissed, it was Varma and substitute Rinku Singh who finished the job.17 India successfully chased the target with two balls to spare, finishing at 150/5 in 19.4 overs and clinching the Asia Cup trophy.18
Key Player of the Match
Tilak Varma was undoubtedly the hero of the day. Coming in when the team was struggling, he scored a magnificent 69, building crucial partnerships and maintaining his composure to guide the team across the finish line under immense pressure.
The victory not only hands India another piece of silverware but also further solidifies their psychological advantage over their arch-rivals in recent limited-overs encounters.