India vs Pakistan, Final Match Summary

Simon Doull informs us that the Asian Cricket Council has conveyed that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. That concludes the presentation ceremony and draws the curtains on this year’s Asia Cup. It is the 9th title for the Men in Blue, who have further extended their dominance in the continental event. As for Pakistan, the wait for their third Asia Cup crown continues, with their last title in this tournament coming in 2012. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the Asia Cup as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. Until next time, take care and goodbye!

Abhishek Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his consistent showing. He amassed 314 runs in the tournament. Starts by sharing that getting into the team after winning the T20 World Cup wasn't easy as an opener. Details that they had a plan about playing in a certain way with intent from the very first ball. Says that if you play an aggressive brand of cricket, you are going to fail sometimes, but stresses sticking to the process. Shares that he had a plan on adjusting to different surfaces and utilising the Powerplay, be it against a pacer or a spinner.

It is now time for the members of the Pakistan team to receive their runners-up medals. Salman Agha collects his medal and the runners-up cheque. The Pakistan skipper walks up for a chat with Simon Doull. He admits it is a tough pill to swallow and says they did not finish well with the bat. Salman praises the bowlers for being outstanding and giving everything they could. Believes that when India needed 64 runs from 6 overs, he felt that they had the game under control. Agha points out that the batting struggled to rotate the strike properly and stresses the need to sort that out quickly. Still, he shares that he is very proud of the boys, adds that there is so much to look forward to, and believes they will come back stronger.

Tilak Varma is the PLAYER OF THE FINAL for his match-winning, unbeaten knock of 69 runs from 53 balls. Tilak says that he just wanted to stay in the middle and finish the game. Admits that the Pakistani bowlers were bowling well and varied their pace, but shares that he just tried to keep calm and finish the game for his country. Appreciates the way Samson and Dube batted under pressure. Tells that they have prepared for every situation and stresses that you need to be flexible to bat at any position and says he was ready for the challenge. Adds that he was backing his game. Details that the wicket was on the slower side and he discussed with Gautam Gambhir on how to rotate the strike. Calls this as the most special knock of his life. Dedicates this win to all the Indians.

After a long wait, it is finally time for the presentation ceremony. First up, the match officials of the final will receive their mementoes.

Rest assured, there is plenty of cricketing action in the meantime. The Nepal-West Indies T20I series continues with the second T20I on 29th September. The Asian side is leading 1-0 after scripting a historic win in the opener. The Women’s World Cup gets underway on 30th September, with hosts India facing Sri Lanka in the tournament curtain-raiser. Adding to the excitement, a marquee T20I series between Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand begins on 1st October.

The presentation ceremony is taking longer than expected to get underway. Most of the stands have emptied out, with only a small section of fans still waiting patiently. It has been about an hour since the winning runs were hit. While we await the start of the ceremony, let’s take a look at what lies ahead for these two sides. For India, attention now turns to the start of their home season, with a Test series against the West Indies beginning on 2nd October. Pakistan, meanwhile, will welcome South Africa for an all-format series that gets underway with the Tests from 12th October.

Pakistan will be left wondering what could have been. There did not seem to be any dew, and the two-paced nature of the pitch really messed with the batters’ timing. With an 84-run opening stand setting such a strong platform, the result could have been very different had they capitalised on that early advantage. After being asked to bat first, Sahibzada Farhan swung like a rusty gate early on, but soon found his rhythm to reach his second consecutive fifty against India. Following his dismissal, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub attempted to maintain momentum, and the score looked promising at 113/1. However, from that point, things fell apart. None of the incoming batters gave themselves time at the crease, and Pakistan suffered a self-inflicted collapse, losing 9 wickets for just 33 runs and were folded inside the 20 overs. Kuldeep Yadav stood out for India with figures of 4 for 30 from his 4 overs, with 3 of those wickets coming in his final over of the night. Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel played their part with two wickets apiece.

It seemed to be a boiling point, with something needing to give from India’s perspective. However, Salman Agha moved away from spin and brought Haris Rauf back into the attack. The move backfired as Rauf's over went for 17 runs. Not only that, but Abrar Ahmed, who had been bowling so well, had a change of end, and the leggie ended up conceding 11 runs in that over. From there, the partnership between Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube wrested control. Though Shaheen Afridi managed a quiet over and Faheem Ashraf did his job in the 19th over, India were left needing 10 runs to win in the final over. Rauf, who had a torrid night, returned to bowl, but Tilak and Rinku guided India over the line.

With 147 runs to chase, India got off to a wobbly start. Abhishek Sharma fell early, giving Pakistan the early lift they were looking for. The situation worsened as Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill perished while trying to force the pace, even though the size of the target did not demand it. Reduced to 20 for 3 inside the Powerplay, Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson joined forces and managed to bring some calm to the proceedings with a 57-run stand. The required run rate hovered around 9 during their partnership, and following the departure of Sanju, Pakistan pushed it close to 11.

Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy are the next ones who have caught up with Sanjay Manjrekar. Yadav says it is very important to bowl in the middle overs and says that it is a luxury to have someone like Varun in the side and that he enjoys bowling with him. Mentions that everyone has a different role in the team. Highlights that Pakistan started off pretty well, but shares that they knew if they could get a couple of wickets quickly, then it wouldn't be easy for the new batter to come in and score runs. Varun shares that it feels really great. Points that Fakhar and Farhan were batting well, but he had some plans for them, and it worked out in a way. Details that Kuldeep came in and chipped in with a wicket, which gave him the memories of KKR winning. Shares that going by the trends, they went berserk in the first ten overs but points that they knew if they bowled in the right areas, they could actually curtail them down. Kuldeep then shares that he tried to take wickets from the very first ball, and also shares that before the match, Hari Prasad Mohan sent the screenshots about the lengths where they needed to bowl. Varun then credits Hari Prasad Mohan, India's performance analyst, for doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes.

Sanju Samson is up next for a chat. He says he really enjoyed the pressure out there. Tells that he had to watch the ball and react, and calm his nerves down. Highlights that he had a good partnership with Tilak and really enjoyed batting with him. Shares that the game dictates what type of cricket you need to play. Says that he has learnt that you need to respect the conditions and situation out there. Details that he was just trying to time the ball well and this is what helped him massively. On being asked whether he enjoyed a close final, Samson says close games really test your character and you get to test your mental ability as well. Calls it a very crucial victory before the T20 World Cup next year.

India's vice-captain, Shubman Gill shares that it feels amazing to win the tournament, having remained unbeaten throughout. States that he and Abhishek know each other inside out. Batting with him is amazing, he says, as Abhishek takes the pressure off the non-striker. Tells that after losing three wickets in the Powerplay, the plan was to take the innings as deep as possible and praises Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube for the way they batted.

India's bowling coach, Morne Morkel is up next. Praises the team for a special performance. Mentions that they were slightly behind in the chase after the Powerplay but adapted well to the conditions. He highlights Shivam Dube’s bowling in the Powerplay as particularly impressive. Adds that the practice sessions were focused, and the players knew how to prepare themselves. Shares that it was very hot in Dubai, so recovery was important. Reckons that in the final, it was about who handled the conditions and pressure best.

Time to hear from a few members of the winning side. Rinku Singh is the first one up for a chat with Sanjay Manjrekar. He says that he just wanted to contribute to the team and is glad that he got the chance to hit the winning runs. Mentions that everyone knows that he is a finisher and shares that it didn't matter where the ball pitched, he would have gone after it anyway. Ends by expressing his happiness that it feels great to finish the game for the team.

India are the 2025 Asia Cup champions! Glory in the desert for the Men in Blue as fireworks light up the Ring of Fire. Heartbreak for Pakistan, who fought tooth and nail and played their part in a grand finale that lived up to its billing. The game ebbed and flowed, but India managed to emerge victorious to clinch their ninth Asia Cup title.

FOUR! RINKU SINGH FINISHES IT OFF IN STYLE! Hard-length delivery, around off. Rinku Singh keeps his calm, stays in the crease, swings with a flat bat, and smashes it over mid on for a boundary. Tilak Varma, the real architect of this chase, removes his helmet, lets out a huge roar, and hugs Rinku Singh. The party starts in the Indian dressing room. INDIA WIN THE ASIA CUP 2025! The crowd is up on its feet as India lift the trophy for the ninth time in their twelfth final appearance!

SCORES ARE LEVEL NOW! Back of a length, around off. Tilak Varma waits back and punches it to the left of mid off and steals a quick single.

SIX! A SHOT OF EXTREME PRECISION! TILAK HAS PULLED OFF AN EXTRAORDINARY STRIKE! Good length, angling across the off stump line. Tilak Varma fetches the ball and smokes it powerfully over deep mid-wicket, and into the stands for a cracking six! The Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir, loves every bit of that, and the Indian dressing room is aloft with broad smiles as that should do it for the Men in Blue!

Two off the first ball! Fired in with all might, full and on off. Tilak Varma plants his back knee on the ground and tries to slog it across the line, but gets it off the toe end. The ball flies over the bowler's head and rolls down to the long on region for a couple of runs.

A good job from Faheem Ashraf to pull through cramps and deliver for his side. It is anybody's game with India needing 10 runs from the final over. Pakistan have been penalised for slow over rate and therefore, they will be allowed only 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle instead of 5. Haris Rauf to bowl the final over. Rinku Singh joins Tilak Varma out in the middle but it will be Tilak on strike at the start of the over.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND GONE! What a crucial delivery for Pakistan! Faheem Ashraf gets his third wicket and how brilliant has he been in the night of the final? At a gentle pace, outside off, on a fuller length. Shivam Dube does not account for the pace off and tries to sail it over long off, but gets no timing whatsoever. The ball goes skyward off the toe end, and descends towards long off. Shaheen Afridi positions himself and judges the ball's trajectory to perfection. Takes a fine catch under pressure in front of the ropes.

BIG SWING AND A MISS! Nips away from a fuller length, outside off. Shivam Dube swings with everything left in his tank, but gets no bat on ball!

FOUR! THAT HAS BEEN POWERED MERCILESSLY! Ashraf tries to keep it outside off, and pulls the length back. Shivam Dube moves across the stumps, stands tall and pulls it between deep mid-wicket and long on for a cracking boundary!

Three singles off the first three balls! Another one hurled outside off, on a length. Tilak waits back and heaves it off the inner half of the bat to long on for a single.

Banged halfway, angling outside off. Shivam covers the stumps, stands tall and flat-bats it down to long on for a single.

Keeps it away from the arc, on a length, outside off. Tilak Varma shuffles across and gets down on his knee. Sweeps it using his wrists to the left of square leg. Fakhar Zaman dives in that direction and makes a half-stop. Just a single. 16 needed off 11 now!

Oopsie! Faheem Ashraf pulls out before delivering for the second time. Looks to be cramp. The physio is out to attend to Faheem. The Indian batters help themselves to some fluids in the meantime. Ashraf is back on his feet, but can he push through? This break has been over 5 minutes and the two Indians will have to reset. All set to resume then.

A six off the final ball spoils the over from Pakistan's perspective. Shaheen Afridi has bowled out, while Faheem Ashraf and Saim Ayub have one over each left. Salman Agha turns to the seam bowling option of Faheem. India need 17 runs off the last 2 overs.

SIX! BELTED! Dube gets all of it! Pretty loose from Rauf. Goes for a yorker but slips in a low full toss, just outside off. Shivam Dube swings with all his might, gets his bat under the ball and muscles it up and over deep mid-wicket for a mammoth six. A very valuable strike from Dube and that brings up the 50-run partnership between Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma off just 36 deliveries! Haris Rauf goes for 13 in this over and admonishes himself in frustration. He has been pretty expensive in this finale. His figures read 3-0-37-0.