The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan is set to take place today, September 28, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This historic match marks the first time the two arch-rivals will clash in the final of the Asia Cup, adding another chapter to their intense rivalry.
The political tensions and on-field incidents have only heightened the stakes. India enters the final as the defending champions and the only undefeated team in the tournament. Pakistan, on the other hand, secured their spot after a narrow victory against Bangladesh. This will be the third time the two teams have met in this tournament, with India having won both previous encounters.
The Asia Cup 2025 is the 17th edition of the tournament, being held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, 2025. This year's edition is played in the T20 format, featuring eight teams.
India has dominated the T20I head-to-head record against Pakistan, with 11 wins to Pakistan's 3 in 15 matches. In this tournament, India won their first match against Pakistan by seven wickets and the second match by six wickets. However, Pakistan has a stronger record in the finals of multinational events.
The matches between India and Pakistan are among the most-watched sporting events in the world. These contests are often described as "war minus shooting" due to the intense emotions and high stakes involved. The history between the two nations, stemming from the Partition of British India, has fueled this fierce sporting rivalry.
Recent matches have been riddled with controversies. During their group stage match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refrained from shaking hands with Pakistani players. There were also reported provocative gestures from Pakistani players. These incidents led to both teams receiving fines from the ICC.
India's squad boasts in-form players like Abhishek Sharma, who is currently the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 309 runs. Kuldeep Yadav has also been exceptional with the ball, taking 13 wickets. Pakistan will rely on their key bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. However, Pakistani politician Firdous Ashiq Awan has criticized Saim Ayub's performance ahead of the final.
Concerns surround the fitness of India's Hardik Pandya, who experienced hamstring issues in a previous match. Abhishek Sharma also suffered from cramps.
The Asia Cup 2025 final is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). In Pakistan, the match will be broadcast for free on PTV, with live streams available on Tamasha and Myco. In India, the match will be telecast on Sony Sports Network and streamed on Sony LIV. In Australia, the match will be available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Tickets for the final have been sold out. The match will be played on the same pitch used for the India vs Sri Lanka Super 4s match.
