India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Final Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Shine as India Clinch Title
India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets to win the Asia Cup 2025 Final. Tilak Varma’s 69* and Kuldeep Yadav’s 4-wicket haul guided India to a record 9th title.
India vs Pakistan — Asia Cup 2025 Final: India edge Pakistan in a tense five-wicket thriller
Result: India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets (chasing 147) to lift their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Highlight: Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 guided India to victory after a middle-order scare, while Kuldeep Yadav’s 4-wicket haul destroyed Pakistan’s batting.
Match Summary
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Date: 28 September 2025
- Toss: India elected to field first
- Pakistan: 146 all out (19.1 overs)
- India: 147/5 (19.5 overs)
- Result: India won by 5 wickets
- Player of the Match: Tilak Varma (India) – 69* off 53 balls
Full Scorecard
Pakistan Innings
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | 57 | 38 | 6 | 2 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 22 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Babar Azam (C) | 12 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Shadab Khan | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Shaheen Afridi | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Haris Rauf | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Usama Mir | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammad Amir | 2* | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 5 (b 1, lb 1, w 3) | |||
| Total | 146 (all out) | 19.1 overs |
Bowling – India
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 28 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 26 | 2 | 6.50 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 4 | 30 | 4 | 7.50 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 3.1 | 30 | 2 | 9.47 |
India Innings
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Shubman Gill | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Tilak Varma | 69* | 53 | 8 | 4 |
| Sanju Samson | 13 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Shivam Dube | 33 | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| Rinku Singh | 7* | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | 3 (w 3) | |||
| Total | 147/5 | 19.5 overs |
Bowling – Pakistan
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 4 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Haris Rauf | 4 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 4 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
| Usama Mir | 4 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Shadab Khan | 3.5 | 31 | 1 | 8.08 |
First Innings Overview
Pakistan started confidently with Farhan and Rizwan adding quick runs in the powerplay. Farhan’s stylish fifty was the highlight of the innings, but the middle order once again faltered under pressure. From 113/1, Pakistan collapsed to 146 all out — losing 9 wickets for just 33 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket burst was the turning point. His variations confused Pakistani batters, while Axar Patel’s control ensured constant pressure. Pakistan failed to build partnerships, handing India the advantage.
India’s Chase: Calm Under Fire
India’s top order stuttered early, losing three wickets for just 20 runs. Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf exploited the new ball brilliantly. However, young Tilak Varma played a mature knock under immense pressure. His 69* anchored India’s innings, supported by Shivam Dube’s counterattack (33 off 22).
As the required rate climbed, Tilak maintained composure, rotating the strike and finding timely boundaries. Rinku Singh’s boundary in the final over sealed the win, sparking celebrations among Indian fans worldwide.
Key Performers
- Tilak Varma (India): 69* off 53 — showed maturity beyond his years.
- Kuldeep Yadav (India): 4/30 — broke Pakistan’s middle order.
- Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan): 57 off 38 — fought a lone battle.
- Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan): 2 wickets — early breakthroughs in the chase.
Pre-Match Analysis
Heading into the final, both teams were in superb form. India remained unbeaten, while Pakistan entered the clash after a thrilling win against Sri Lanka. Conditions in Dubai offered assistance to both seamers and spinners, making balance and adaptability crucial.
India opted to bowl first, banking on dew and pressure chasing ability. Pakistan’s decision to rely on their top order worked early but faltered when faced with quality spin.
Post-Match Analysis
India’s success once again reflected their depth and calmness under pressure. Even after losing early wickets, the middle order absorbed the heat and carried them home. Kuldeep’s spell was match-defining — his flight and turn were too much for Pakistan’s middle order.
Pakistan’s inability to convert strong starts into big totals cost them the trophy. Their collapse from 113/1 will be a bitter memory. Bowlers tried valiantly but lacked scoreboard pressure to defend.
The post-match ceremony sparked debate as the Indian team briefly refrained from customary celebrations — a symbolic moment that drew mixed reactions among fans and media circles. Yet, on-field, their performance spoke volumes.
Fans’ Reaction
In Stadium: The Dubai crowd witnessed electrifying energy — chants of “Jeetega Bhai Jeetega, India Jeetega” mixed with passionate Pakistani drums. The atmosphere was charged, emotional, and loud.
On Social Media:
- Indian fans hailed Tilak Varma’s calmness and dubbed him “Next Kohli”.
- Pakistani fans expressed disappointment over the middle-order collapse, calling it a “repeat heartbreak.”
- Neutral viewers praised the match for its intensity, but criticized both teams for post-match protocol tension.
Twitter and Instagram were flooded with hashtags like #AsiaCupFinal, #TilakVarmaHero, and #IndvsPakClassic.
Future Implications
- India: Winning their 9th Asia Cup boosts morale ahead of the T20 World Cup. Youngsters like Varma and Dube have proven their match-winning capabilities.
- Pakistan: Need to rebuild the middle order and address their recurring collapse issues. The team showed potential but lacked composure.
- Asia Cup Legacy: Despite the off-field tension, the 2025 final will be remembered as one of the most dramatic India–Pakistan contests ever played.
Final Verdict
The Asia Cup 2025 Final delivered everything fans hoped for — drama, skill, collapses, comebacks, and emotion. India’s temperament triumphed over Pakistan’s inconsistency.
Tilak Varma and Kuldeep Yadav were the architects of India’s glory, while Farhan’s valiant effort went in vain.
As the dust settles in Dubai, this final will be remembered not only for the cricketing spectacle but for the emotional intensity it carried — a reminder that India vs Pakistan is not just a match; it’s a cricketing saga that defines an era.
