India lift Asia Cup for ninth time in tense final

Monday, 29 September 2025 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tilak Varma kept a cool head to guide India home

Subdued celebration for fifty from Sahibzada Farhan

Fakhar Zaman found his touch to score 46 off 35 balls

Kuldeep Yadav got three wickets in an over as Pakistan lost wickets in a procession

Pakistan lose nine wickets for 33 runs in low-scoring match

DUBAI: In a historic clash between the two Asian giants for the first time in an Asia Cup final, India showed their dominance of the tournament by beating Pakistan by five wickets in a low-scoring match that went down to the wire, in front of a sold-out crowd of 28,000 spectators at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

It was India’s ninth win in the tournament, but it was no one-sided affair like the previous meetings between these two sides. It ebbed and flowed and, in the end, it was India’s batting depth that outdid Pakistan.

The law of averages caught up with Abhishek Sharma, as he departed cheaply in the second over. Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill followed him back, and India found themselves 20-3 in four overs. Sanju Samson (24) steadied the innings, with Tilak Varma adding 57 off 50 balls without taking much risks to bring India back into the contest.

Abrar Ahmed broke the partnership and Pakistan thought they were back in the game with the asking rate also touching 10 runs per over. But a poor 15th over from Haris Rauf which cost 17 runs tilted the game back again in India’s favour, with the duo of Varma and Shivam Dube adding another 60 runs off 40 balls. With 10 needed off the final over, Varma struck a telling blow as he smashed Rauf for a six and almost sealed the game, leaving Rinku Singh to hit the winning runs.

Pakistan, invited to bat first, put up a dismal batting display to be bowled out for 146 inside the 20 overs. Opener Sahibzada Farhan was a determined man as he took on Jasprit Bumrah again, which many legends have tried and failed. Farhan batted at an excellent tempo, scoring 57 off 38 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes), and with Fakhar Zaman playing a good supporting hand (46 off 35 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes), they put on 84 for the first wicket off 58 balls. But once Farhan fell, and Saim Ayub perished for 14, it was a procession as Pakistan lost their remaining nine wickets for 33 runs. In these conditions, it was always about how Pakistan’s batters handled India’s spinners and that’s exactly where the plot was lost.

Kuldeep Yadav was the player who turned it around – from 23 runs in his first two overs to 4/7 in his next two overs. Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel did a brilliant job as well, keeping it not only tight, but being penetrative as well. The moment Fakhar Zaman was gone, Pakistan totally lost the game.

Scores:

Pakistan 146 (19.1) (Sahibzada Farhan 57, Fakhar Zaman 46, Jasprit Bumrah 2/25, Varun Chakravarthy 2/30, Axar Patel 2/26, Kuldeep Yadav 4/30)

India 150-5 (19.4) (Tilak Varma 69*, Sanju Samson 24, Shivam Dube 33, Faheem Ashraf 3/29)