India defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Asia Cup final on September 28, 2025, securing their ninth Asia Cup title. The match, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, saw India win by five wickets in a tense chase. However, the victory was overshadowed by a controversial post-match presentation ceremony where the Indian team initially refused to collect the trophy.
Pakistan, after being asked to bat first, were dismissed for a modest 146 in 19.1 overs. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 57 off 38 balls, while Fakhar Zaman contributed 46 off 35. The Indian bowling attack was spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav, who took 4 wickets for 30 runs in his four overs. He was well supported by Varun Chakaravarthy (2/30), Axar Patel (2/26), and Jasprit Bumrah (2/25).
Chasing 147, India got off to a shaky start, slumping to 20/3 early in their innings. Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi rattled the Indian top order. Tilak Varma then played a crucial, unbeaten innings of 69 off 53 balls, which included three fours and four sixes, to anchor the chase. Shivam Dube supported him with a quickfire 33 off 22, contributing to a vital 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Sanju Samson also added a valuable 24. India eventually reached the target with two balls to spare, winning by five wickets. Tilak Varma was the hero of the match for his outstanding performance under pressure.
The post-match presentation ceremony was delayed by an hour, reportedly due to the Pakistan team's late arrival from their dressing room. This delay was met with boos from the crowd. Following this, the Indian team initially refused to collect the trophy in the presence of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi. The reason for this refusal remains unclear, but it added a strange twist to the end of an otherwise thrilling final. Eventually, the Indian team did celebrate their Asia Cup win, although without the trophy initially. Abhishek Sharma was named player of the tournament for his outstanding performance throughout the Asia Cup.
This Asia Cup final was particularly significant as it marked the first time in 41 years that India and Pakistan had met in the summit clash of the tournament. The match lived up to its billing, providing a nail-biting finish for fans around the world.
