Dubai: India lifted their ninth Asia Cup title on Sunday night after edging past arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a gripping final at the Dubai International Stadium.
The victory, their third against Pakistan in this edition, capped off an unbeaten campaign for the Men in Blue, who won all seven of their matches in the tournament.
Batting first, Pakistan appeared to be on course for a formidable total after openers Shaibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46) stitched together an 84-run stand in just 9.4 overs.
𝗖. 𝗛. 𝗔. 𝗠. 𝗣. 𝗜. 𝗢. 𝗡. 𝗦 🏆
A dominant performance capped by an unbeaten campaign 💪
Congratulations to #TeamIndia on winning #AsiaCup2025 🇮🇳 🥳
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/0VXKuKPkE2#Final pic.twitter.com/n9fYeHfByB
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 28, 2025
At 113/1, a score of 180-plus looked inevitable. However, a sudden collapse triggered by India’s spinners turned the tide. From a commanding position, Pakistan were bundled out for 146 in just 38 deliveries. Kuldeep Yadav was the star with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel chipped in with two apiece.
Chasing 147, India endured early jitters, slipping to 20/3 inside four overs. Tilak Verma and Sanju Samson steadied the innings with a vital partnership before Samson fell for 24. Tilak, however, held firm, crafting a composed unbeaten 69, mixing boundaries with calculated singles to keep India in the hunt.
Shivam Dube (33) added valuable runs, and though dismissed off the last ball of the penultimate over, his contribution left India needing 10 from the final six balls. Tilak sealed the win in style with a towering six in the second ball of the last over, ensuring India’s crown as Asia’s champions.
India record a stunning chase & register a historic win! ✌️
🇮🇳 follow up a professional effort with the ball with an equally well-timed chase to get home! 🥳#INDvPAK #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 #Final #ACC pic.twitter.com/nZBzdkyB9x
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 28, 2025
This was the first time India and Pakistan had clashed in an Asia Cup final, and the contest carried the weight of weeks of on- and off-field drama. From a handshake controversy to fines for provocative gestures, the rivalry was intense throughout. Ultimately, India’s calm under pressure and unbeaten streak spoke louder than the noise, as they finished the tournament 3-0 against their fiercest rivals.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a prize money of ₹21 crore for the champion squad and its support staff. “Three blows. 0 response. Asia Cup Champions. Message delivered,” the BCCI posted on social media. Board vice-president Rajeev Shukla hailed the team’s marvellous display under pressure, while national leaders added their voices to the celebrations.
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
Outcome is the same – India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the team for their flawless campaign, noting that they “did not lose a single match, marking their dominance.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post drawing parallels with India’s recent cross-border military successes, wrote: “#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins!”
Amid the celebrations, India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav announced he would donate his entire Asia Cup match fees to the Armed Forces and the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, dedicating the victory to the nation’s heroes.
