Asia Cup 2025: Worst Ever For Cricketing Contest, Best Ever For Controversy?
Is this the worst Asia Cup ever in terms of competitive cricket, even as it thrives on controversy and spectacle?
The Asia Cup is meant to be the subcontinent's showpiece - a clash of cricketing cultures, rivalries, and reputations. But the 2025 edition, currently unfolding in Dubai, has sparked an uncomfortable question: is this the worst Asia Cup ever in terms of competitive cricket, even as it thrives on controversy and spectacle?
Where's the fight?
Fans used to the edge-of-their-seat drama of the IPL and BBL are finding this Asia Cup a "poor cousin." The ingredients are there-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan-but the dish feels undercooked.
Matches are ending in one-sided thrashings.
Lesser teams have been blown away; the UAE were bundled out for 57 against India, one of the lowest totals in Asia Cup T20I history.
Even established sides like Bangladesh have struggled to put up a fight, with India dismantling them by 41 runs in the Super Fours.
It's not just fans. Ravichandran Ashwin, never shy of calling it as he sees it, said bluntly that the Asia Cup lacks competitiveness and suggested inviting stronger "guest" teams like South Africa or Australia to raise standards.
Key takeaways
2025 is among the most one-sided editions in recent history; almost 38% of matches so far have been blowouts.
The only comparable edition is 2016 (T20), where 40% of games were lopsided.
ODI editions (2014, 2018, 2022) generally had fewer one-sided games, averaging 20-27%.
While 2025 is not an outright outlier, it's clearly on the more disappointing side of the spectrum when it comes to competitive cricket.
Best in controversy
If the cricket has been limp, the drama has been anything but.
Provocative gestures: Pakistan's Haris Rauf flashed a "6-0" sign, while Sahibzada Farhan mimicked a gun salute at Indian fans. India has since lodged an official complaint with the ICC.
Boardroom battles: The BCCI and PCB have traded protests and counter-complaints almost as frequently as their players have traded boundaries.
Historic rivalries diluted: India vs. Pakistan still commands viewership, but the actual cricket has been routine; India's seven-wicket win chasing 127 summed up the lack of tension.
Fielding fiascos: India, despite winning, set an embarrassing record for dropped catches in one Asia Cup, prompting headlines questioning their sharpness.
In short, the controversies are overshadowing the cricket.
Why it feels worse this time
The Asia Cup has always had mismatches-associate nations against full members, weaker sides blown away. So why does 2025 feel particularly flat?
IPL and BBL effect: Fans are conditioned to high-octane, tightly contested T20 cricket where the margin of error is small. A 40-run win in a 20-over game feels like an eternity away from what they expect.
Predictable narratives: India looks too strong, Pakistan too erratic, Bangladesh too brittle. Rivalries feel one-sided rather than an edge-of-the-knife thriller.
Too much noise, not enough cricket: When the loudest stories are about celebrations, handshakes, and board complaints, rather than last-over thrillers, something's off.
The tragedy is this
Asia Cup 2025 could be remembered more for gestures, protests, and politics than for cricket itself. For a generation of fans raised on IPL thrillers and BBL nail-biters, this feels less like Asia's "showpiece" and more like its "side act."
India Cricket Team
Bangladesh Cricket Team
Sri Lanka Cricket Team
Pakistan Cricket Team