India wins its 9th Aisa Cup after a thrilling 5-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While young sensation Tilak Varma anchored India’s chase with a match-winning knock, spinner Kuldeep Yadav destroyed Pakistan’s middle order, making them the heroes of the night at Asia Cup 2025 Grand finale.
Pakistan’s Innings: Strong Start but Sudden Collapse
Pakistan, batting first, put up 146 runs in 19.1 overs. Openers Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) gave them a solid platform with aggressive batting. But once they departed, the innings collapsed dramatically.
Except for Saim Ayub (14), none of the middle or lower order batters could resist India’s spin attack. The last six wickets added just 12 runs, leaving Pakistan short of a challenging total.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the standout, finishing with 4/30 in 4 overs. He was well supported by Axar Patel (2/26), Varun Chakravarthy (2/30) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/25), who all struck at crucial moments.
India’s Chase: Tilak Varma Shows Maturity
Chasing 147, India had early setbacks as Abhishek Sharma (5), Shubman Gill (12), and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (1) departed cheaply. At 39/3, the game looked wide open.
That’s when Tilak Varma stepped up. The young left-hander played a calm yet fluent innings, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. He built crucial partnerships with Sanju Samson (24 off 21) and Shivam Dube (33 off 22), guiding India closer to victory.
In the end, Varma, with *Rinku Singh (4 off 1)**, sealed the win with two balls to spare (150/5 in 19.4 overs).
Faheem Ashraf (3/29) was Pakistan’s best bowler, striking at crucial moments. Shaheen Afridi (1/20) and Abrar Ahmed (1/29) also bowled well, but with too few runs to defend, the pressure stayed on Pakistan throughout.
The victory sparked massive celebrations among Indian players and fans alike. Beating Pakistan in a final added an extra layer of joy, making this triumph one of India’s most memorable Asia Cup wins.
With this victory, India once again stamped their dominance in Asian cricket, showcasing a blend of youthful talent and experienced campaigners.
