India were crowned Asia Cup T20 2025 champions after a nail-biting five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. The Men in Blue successfully chased down 147 in the final over, with Tilak Varma’s gritty half-century and Kuldeep Yadav’s game-changing spell proving decisive in a memorable triumph over their arch-rivals.
Pakistan began their innings on a shaky note after being asked to bat first. Opener Sahibzada Farhan struggled early against Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah, with just 19 runs coming in the first three overs. However, Farhan quickly shifted gears, finding boundaries off Bumrah and Axar Patel to push Pakistan to 45/0 at the end of the powerplay. Together with Fakhar Zaman, he launched an attack on India’s spinners and went on to notch up a brisk half-century. But once Farhan departed for 57 off 38 balls, Pakistan’s innings unraveled. Kuldeep Yadav delivered a sensational three-wicket over, and alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, dismantled the middle order. The Men in Green crashed from 84/1 to 134/8, finishing with a modest 146 as Kuldeep ended with outstanding figures of 4/30.
Chasing the target, India had a nightmare start. Faheem Ashraf dismissed both Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill in quick succession, while Shaheen Afridi got rid of Suryakumar Yadav to leave India struggling at 3/21. However, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma steadied the innings with a sensible partnership, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. The duo rebuilt the chase with a 57-run stand before Samson departed against the run of play. With the required rate climbing, India needed a spark—and they found it against Haris Rauf’s expensive spell.
Team India celebrates Asia Cup win without the trophy pic.twitter.com/w9ZmM47FI2
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 28, 2025
Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube turned the tide with a flurry of boundaries, taking 17 runs off Rauf’s 15th over. Dube’s attacking 33 and Tilak’s calm fifty kept India in control heading into the final overs. Though Pakistan applied pressure with a tight over from Afridi, Tilak’s composure under pressure proved vital. He anchored the chase brilliantly, striking timely boundaries to keep the equation manageable.
In the end, Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 off 53 balls sealed India’s victory with two balls to spare, as they finished at 150/5. His knock, laced with four sixes and three fours, was the backbone of India’s successful chase. Kuldeep Yadav’s spin heroics and Faheem Ashraf’s spirited bowling (3/29) were also standout moments in a contest that kept fans on the edge till the very last over. With this win, India once again asserted their dominance in Asian cricket, lifting the coveted Asia Cup trophy in style.