Dubai, September 28: India sealed a dramatic victory over Pakistan to lift the Asia Cup T20I 2025, reaffirming their dominance as Asia’s most formidable cricketing force. In the final at Dubai, Pakistan batted first and looked well-placed at 113 for 1, but a stunning collapse saw them bowled out for 146, losing their last nine wickets for just 33 runs. Kuldeep Yadav was the architect of the downfall with 4 for 30, while Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel provided crucial support to keep Pakistan in check.
Chasing 147, India stumbled early to 20 for 3, but Tilak Varma anchored the innings with an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls. His composed partnership of 60 runs with Shivam Dube (33) steadied the chase. In a tense final over, Rinku Singh struck the winning runs with two balls to spare, sealing India’s five-wicket victory and a clean sweep over Pakistan in the tournament.
However, the post-match presentation was not without controversy — the Indian team reportedly refused to accept the trophy and medals from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, adding a political undertone to the celebration.
India’s Asia Cup Legacy
Since its inception in 1984, India has been the most successful team in Asia Cup history, having now won the title nine times across both ODI and T20I formats — in 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2025. Sri Lanka follows with six titles, while Pakistan has two.
India’s triumph in the Asia Cup T20I 2025 once again showcases their remarkable depth, consistency, and resilience — traits that continue to define their reign as the undisputed powerhouse of Asian cricket.
