Verma stars as India clinch Asia Cup final against Pakistan
- By Web Desk -
- Sep 28, 2025
Tilak Varma held his nerve with a match-winning half-century as India edged Pakistan by five wickets to lift the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 crown at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Set 147 to win, the reigning world champions survived an early collapse to seal victory in 19.4 overs, with Varma unbeaten on 69 off 53 balls, an innings laced with four sixes and three fours.
Pakistan’s new-ball duo of Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi rattled India’s top order inside four overs.
Faheem drew first blood by dismissing the tournament’s leading run-scorer Abhishek Sharma for 5, before Shaheen removed Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav (1) with a sharp catch from Salman Ali Agha. Faheem struck again to send back Shubman Gill (12), reducing India to 20 for 3.
With India reeling, Varma combined with Sanju Samson for a steadying 57-run stand. Samson’s brisk 24 ended when Abrar Ahmed broke through in the 13th over.
Shivam Dube then joined Varma, and their 60-run partnership all but sealed the chase. Dube’s 33 off 22 balls provided crucial momentum before falling in the penultimate over.
Varma reached his fifty off 40 balls and ensured India crossed the finish line despite losing partners around him.
Earlier, Pakistan squandered a dominant start after being put in to bat. Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) powered them to 84 without loss by the halfway mark.
But once Varun Chakravarthy removed Farhan, Kuldeep Yadav took control, bagging 4 for 30 as Pakistan collapsed to 146 all out in 19.1 overs.
India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah taking two apiece, while Chakravarthy finished with 2 for 29.
The final marked the first-ever Asia Cup title showdown between the arch-rivals. Pakistan had qualified by defeating Bangladesh in a virtual semi-final, while India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
For India, it was a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title, underscoring their dominance in regional cricket. Pakistan, despite glimpses of brilliance from Farhan, Fakhar, and Faheem, were left to rue their middle-order collapse at the decisive moment.
Live Updates
End of the game!
India won by five wickets
OUT!
Shivam Dube falls after a brilliant 33 off 21.
India 137-5 after 19 over.
They need another 10 to win from the last over.
50!
A fighting half-century for Tilak Varma. He struck three fours and the same number of maximums in his 40-ball knock.
100 up for India in 15 overs.
They need another 47 in last five overs with six wickets in hand.
OUT!
Abrar Ahmed breaks the dangerous-looking partnership between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.
He removes Samson for 24
India 77-4 after 12.2 overs.
After 10 overs India 58-3 with Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson at the crease.
End of powerplay
India 36-3 after six overs
OUT!
Faheem Ashraf strikes again as he removes in-form Shuman Gill.
India 20-3 after 4 overs.
OUT!
What a moment, an excellent diving catch from captain Salman Ali Agha, as Shaheen Shah Afridi removes Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
India 10-2 after 2.3 overs
OUT!
Faheem Ashraf strikes for Pakistan as he removes the tournament’s top scorer Abhishek Sharma.
Slower ball hung up on a fullish length wide outside off. Abhishek, looking for that customary early-innings six, tries to fetch it but has to drag it way too much.
India 7-1 after 1.1 overs
Innings break
Pakistan bowled out for 146 in 19.1 overs.
OUT!
Off stump out of the ground, and Bumrah is on the board as well!
Pakistan 141-9 after 17.5 overs
OUT!!
Salman skies one now, and Samson snares this as well! Pakistan in free-fall!
Pakistan 133-6 after 16.1 overs
OUT!!
Talat perishes too, and Pakistan are falling apart now.
Pakistan 133-5 after 16 overs.
Out!!
Fakhar goes for one big shot too many, and Varun has another!
Pakistan 126-4 after 14.4 overs
He departs after scoring 46 off 35 balls.
Axar and Kuldeep break Pakistan momentum
Pakistan 118-3 after 14 overs
OUT!!!
Sahibzada Farhan holes out to deep mid-wicket, and Varun provides India with the breakthrough they were craving!
He departs after scoring 57 off 38 balls (5×4 3×6) SR: 150
Pakistan 84-1 after 9.4 overs.
Fakhar joins in on the six-hitting fun too! Floated up on middle and leg.
And on the next ball a costly miss by Sanju Samson. He missed a stumping opportunity on Fakhar, who advanced but is not to the pitch of the ball.
Half-century by Sahibzada Farhan. His brilliant run with the bat in T20Is continues. He has smashed four boundaries and two maximums.
Pakistan 77-0 after nine overs.
End of powerplay
Pakistan 45-0 after six overs
Sahibzada Farhan 31* and Fakhar Zaman 12
Right out of the screws! And Farhan is on the charge now against Jasprit Bumrah. Seems like a slower ball that pitches on a length outside off. Farhan reads it, sets up a strong base and bangs it over mid off!
Bumrah ko itna easy khailte hwe me ne yeah pehla batsman dekha.or us ka name hai Farhan sahibzada🙂.
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) September 28, 2025
Pakistan 32-0 after 4 overs.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha left alone in trophy shoot
And it is time for national anthems of both team.
Both teams are meeting in the final for the first time in the Asia Cup history, as this is also the first meeting between the two side in any final since the famous 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final.
This is the first-ever Asia Cup final between Pakistan and India is being played at the Dubai International Stadium.
India suffered a massive blow as their key all-rounder Hardik Pandya left out of the side due to niggle. Rinku Singh replaced the all-rounder.
Salman looked happy to bat first. He added that that they are very excited and looking forward to the game.
Agha mentions they have not played the perfect game yet, and that they may have to produce that today. This is the sort of pitch they have been having, he says, and he does not expect it to make a huge difference. Same team for Pakistan.
This looks like a good wicket, Suryakumar says and that there has not been a lot of cricket here, meaning it should not change much. The brand of cricket they have been playing, they have to continue that, he adds. Unfortunately, Hardik misses out with a niggle. Harshit and Arshdeep miss out. Rinku and Dube come in.
India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed