The India vs. Pakistan rivalry has always been among the most intense in world cricket. In 2025, that rivalry reached a new peak—for the first time ever, India and Pakistan met in an Asia Cup final.
Road to the Final
India entered the final as favorites. They had been unbeaten throughout the tournament, securing their spot before the Super Fours stage even concluded. Their batting and bowling units looked well-balanced, and they had already defeated Pakistan twice in this edition.News +3
Pakistan, on the other hand, had to fight hard for their place. They edged out Bangladesh in a tense Super Four encounter to reach the final. Cricinfo +3 Their path was more precarious, but the momentum of a do-or-die match against Bangladesh gave them belief. Jazeera +2
Thus, when the summit clash arrived on 28 September 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, it was a meeting of contrasting trajectories: one side dominant, the other scrapping to prove their mettle. Reuters + 3
The Final Match—A Dramatic Battle
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Their innings began steadily, with early partnerships giving hope. But in a dramatic collapse, they lost nine wickets for just 33 runs, crumbling to 146 all out in 19.1 overs.
The architect of that collapse was Kuldeep Yadav, who delivered a sensational spell of 4 for 30. Complemented by Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel, India’s bowling attack suffocated Pakistan’s middle and lower order. Reuters + 2 AP News + 2
In reply, India got off to a disastrous start—20 for 3—but the game turned on a composed, fearless innings by Tilak Varma, who remained unbeaten on 69 off 53 balls. He stitched vital partnerships: one with Sanju Samson and a crucial 60-run stand with Shivam Dube (33) to keep India in the chase. AP News + 2 Reuters + 2
As the pressure mounted in the final over, Rinku Singh—in what was the only ball he faced in the tournament—hit a boundary to seal the win with two balls to spare. News + 1 Thus, India clinched the title with five wickets in hand. AP News + 2 Reuters + 2
Aftermath & Controversy
While the on-field contest was gripping, the post-match proceedings were overshadowed by off-field tension. India refused to accept the trophy and winner’s medals from Mohsin Naqvi, who is both the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Asian Cricket Council chairman. AP News The Indian team also declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, echoing incidents earlier in the tournament. Gulf News News +3Reuters + 3
Because of this standoff, the presentation was dramatically altered: India accepted only individual awards, and there was no formal presentation of the trophy. Reuters + 2 AP News + 2
Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, expressed disappointment at how events played out, stating that such acts send a poor message to young fans and the spirit of the game. From the Indian side, the BCCI is expected to file a protest to the ICC over the involvement of Naqvi. AP News +1
🏏 Pakistan Innings – 146 all out (19.1 overs) Score Card India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Final 2025
| Batsman | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam (c) | 27 | 19 |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | 25 | 20 |
| Saim Ayub | 23 | 17 |
| Salman Agha | 14 | 11 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 12 | 8 |
| Shadab Khan | 9 | 7 |
| Azam Khan | 7 | 10 |
| Shaheen Afridi | 6 | 6 |
| Haris Rauf | 2 | 4 |
| Naseem Shah | 1 | 3 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 0 | 1 |
| Extras | 20 | |
| Total | 146/10 (19.1 overs) |
Bowling – India
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav | 4 | 30 | 4 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 28 | 2 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 24 | 2 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 26 | 1 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 3.1 | 33 | 1 |
🏏 India Innings – 147/5 (19.4 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 5 | 8 |
| Shubman Gill | 7 | 7 |
| Virat Kohli | 3 | 5 |
| Tilak Varma* | 69 | 53 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | 22 | 19 |
| Shivam Dube | 33 | 26 |
| Rinku Singh* | 4 | 1 |
| Extras | 4 | |
| Total | 147/5 (19.4 overs) |
Bowling – Pakistan
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 4 | 28 | 2 |
| Haris Rauf | 4 | 32 | 2 |
| Naseem Shah | 4 | 26 | 1 |
| Shadab Khan | 4 | 29 | 0 |
| Salman Agha | 3.4 | 31 | 0 |
📊 Match Summary
- Result: India won by 5 wickets (2 balls remaining)
- Player of the Match: Tilak Varma – 69* (53)
- Player of the Tournament: Kuldeep Yadav
Significance
- This final was historic: the first time India and Pakistan faced off in an India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final over 41 years of this tournament’s existence.
- With this victory, India now holds a record ninth Asia Cup title across formats and their second in the T20 format.
- The final also reinforced the dominance India has shown over Pakistan in recent times. In this tournament alone, India had already beaten Pakistan twice, making the final result seem a continuation of form.
- On the flip side, Pakistan’s inability to convert promising starts into substantial totals remains a concern. Their batting collapse in the final was symptomatic of that.
- Off the field, the match highlighted how political tensions and sports remain deeply entwined. The refusal to accept the trophy and handshake incidents underscore how symbolic gestures can overshadow cricketing excellence.
India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Final 2025 – Match Highlights & Result
Conclusion
The India vs. Pakistan Asia Cup final of 2025 was not just a cricket match—it was a dramatic narrative of dominance, tension, and emotion. India, despite early setbacks in the chase, held their nerve under pressure and were led by a stellar knock from Tilak Varma and incisive bowling from Kuldeep Yadav. Pakistan, though hopeful, crumbled when it mattered most. And finally, the post-match refusal to accept the trophy added a controversial subplot to an already high-stakes contest.
If you like, I can also prepare a version with extra player quotes, statistical comparisons, or a “match-by-match” breakdown. Would you like me to send that?
Visit home page more info…
