India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025 Final: For the third straight Sunday, India and Pakistan crossed paths in the 2025 Asia Cup. Familiarity may sometimes dull the edge of a contest, but when Kuldeep Yadav is in the frame, Pakistan can never breathe easy.
The left-arm wrist spinner once again became their tormentor-in-chief, ripping through the middle and lower order to script a collapse that turned the summit into almost an one-sided affair at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Put into bat, Pakistan began with uncharacteristic assurance. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman combined for a sparkling 84-run opening stand, a start that briefly promised redemption for a batting order scarred by repeated failures against India in this tournament. Farhan, full of intent, hammered a 36-ball fifty, while Fakhar looked steady at the other end, threatening to anchor the innings deep. For a fleeting half hour, it felt as though Pakistan had cracked the code, shaking off the ghosts of earlier collapses.
But that mirage didn’t last. The moment spin entered the equation, the familiar unraveling began. Farhan, having just raised his half-century, fell to Varun Chakravarthy and the slide that followed was brutal.
Saim Ayub, desperate to make amends after three ducks in the tournament, briefly threatened with boundaries, while Fakhar’s muscle shots gave Pakistan fans renewed hope. Yet, when Kuldeep returned for his second spell, the tone of the night changed. Ayub became his first victim, and from there, Pakistan’s resistance crumbled in dramatic fashion.
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Axar Patel piled on the pressure, dismissing Mohammad Haris for a duck and Hussain Talat soon after, while Fakhar, the one batter who could have carried Pakistan’s hopes, perished trying to force the pace, slicing Varun to point. At 4 down, the momentum had already shifted irreversibly.
What followed was a collapse that has become all too familiar in this rivalry. From 113/1, Pakistan managed just 33 more runs for their last nine wickets. Kuldeep, the architect of so many Pakistan downfalls, ran riot in his final over, scything through Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf in quick succession.
As India and Pakistan lock horns in this high-octane Asia Cup final, here are the top highlights:
Moment of the match?
INDIA WINS THE ASIA CUP FOR THE NINTH TIME! Beats Pakistan by 5 wickets
AAAHHHHHHH….Dube departs after setting up the game….India 137/5 with one over remaining!
Faheem is back on his mark. Can he complete his spell?
The physio is out to check on Faheem. Certainly looks like a bout of cramp, and with Rauf having bowled the 18th, and with only spinners having their quota left, it is imperative for Pakistan that Faheem bowls the 19th.
Not looking good for Pakistan: Faheem Ashraf looks to be cramping on his attempt to bowl the penultimate over, not once but twice! India 130/4 after 18 overs.
Not looking good for Pakistan: Faheem Ashraf looks to be cramping on his attempt to bowl the penultimate over, not once but twice! India 130/4 after 18 overs.
Down to the final two overs: Dube deposits Haris for a SIX to reduce the margin to 17 off the final two overs. Well, Haris Rauf has another over left in his spell. Will Salman Agha use him?
50 for Tilak Varma: Cometh the hour, cometh Varma! The left-hander brings up a stunning 41-ball half-century, in the highest of high-pressure games.
100 up for INDIA in 15.1 overs: Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube dealing in SIXES to get India to three digits!
That was SCARY! Tilak Varma SURVIVES a run-out! After completing the first run, Dube said NO to the second and Tilak had to retreat from half-way down. The keeper is a little lackadaisical to take the bails off, which offered Tilak a reprieve.
WICKET 77/4: Sanju departs after getting a start. Abrar Ahmed breaks the flourishing 57-run partnership between Sanju and Tilak Varma to bring Pakistan back into the game.
58/3 after 10 overs: India need 89 more from the next 60 balls to win the Asia Cup 2025 title
50 for India in 8.1 overs: After three early setbacks, Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson carry on the repair work. And two balls later, Samson gets a reprieve on 12, dropped by Hussain Talat off leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Lowest powerplay score for India in Asia Cup 2025
Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson with the rebuilding task after India loses three inside an eventful powerplay. After Sanju picks a boundary off Shahin Afridi, Tilak counterattacks Faheem Ashraf with a four and a six to propel India to 36/3.
WICKET 20/3: Shubman Gill departs, second wicket for Faheem Ashraf. India loses third wicket inside the powerplay. Seems the pressure of final getting into the Indians.
Ahhh what’s the delay? Gill says the spider cam or something suspended in the air is coming into his line of sight. After the restart, Gill survives a close run-out attempt!
Update: Play stopped due to bad light
WICKET 7/1: Abhishek Sharma departs after a tame miscue into the air off Faheem Ashraf. Suryakumar Yadav joins Shubman Gill for the chase of 146.
WICKET 10/2: Shaheen provides Pakistan the second breakthrough as SKY departs after being caught by Salman Ali Agha.
WICKET 7/1: Abhishek Sharma departs after a tame miscue into the air off Faheem Ashraf. Suryakumar Yadav joins Shubman Gill for the chase of 146.
Welcome back! Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are at the crease. Shaheen Afridi to open the attack as Pakistan look to defend 146
Pakistan bowled out for 146
Jasprit Bumrah claims the final WICKET of Mohammad Nawaz to bundle Pakistan out for 146. From 113/1 to 146 ALL OUT, Pakistan’s collapse was triggered by the Indian spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav (4/30), Axar Patel (2/26) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/30)
WICKET 141/9: BOOM! BOOMMRAHHHHH Nails with a well-directed Yorker to get Haris Rauf OUT for a DUCK.
WICKET 141/9: BOOM! BOOMMRAHHHHH Nails with a well-directed Yorker to get Haris Rauf OUT for a DUCK.
WICKET 134/8: ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST. Kuldeep takes one more in the over! Faheem Ashraf out for a DUCK after being caught by Tilak Varma at long off! Pakistan have now lost seven wickets for 21 runs.
WICKET 134/7: Kuldeep strikes twice in his final over. Shahin Afridi OUT for a DUCK after being trapped in front off a fullish length googly just outside off.
WICKET 133/6: Pakistan in free-fall, loses their sixth! This time, skipper Salman Ali Agha departs for single digit after skying one off Kuldeep but miscues it to Samson
Shivam Dubey will open the attack for India in the absence of Hardik. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman are the Pakistani openers at the crease.
Pakistan add 32 runs in three overs after powerplay to race to 77/0
Varun Chakravarthy’s introduction into the attack in the fifth over slowed down Pakistan’s scoring rate as the openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman failed to pick the mystery spinner out of the hand, instead relying on cross-bat shots. By the end of the powerplay, Pakistan must be pleased to reach 45/0, although they now have to tackle a barrage of spin on what seems like a slightly sluggish surface in Dubai.
Having said that, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are also into the attack. Both Farhan and Fakhar took their time against the wrist-spinner before Farhan pounds Kuldeep into the second tier over deep square leg for a SIX. Axar also gets a similar treatment from Farhan at the other end. Fakhar soon joined the onslaught depositing Kuldeep over deep mid-wicket for a flat SIX.
In the 9th over, Farhan completed his second T20I fifty against India off 35 deliveries while Fakhar also started gaining confidence.
Also, India have held onto two Bumrah overs for the back-end. A change prompted by Hardik's injury and the stakes in this game.
WICKET 84/1: Varun provides India with the breakthrough they were craving. Farhan departs a ball after slamming the mystery spinner for a SIX long over long on. The right-hander went for a second skier but this time is a bit cramped for room, and clinks it off the bottom half of the bat and arrows it towards Tilak at deep mid wicket.
After 10 overs Pakistan races to 87/1. Saim Ayub, with four ducks in the tournament, joins Fakhar in the middle.
WICKET 113/2: Kuldeep strikes with Saim Ayub’s wicket. Ayub, like earlier in the over, couldn’t keep his cut down and offered a regulation chance to Bumrah at backward point. Pakistan 113/2, Mohammed Haris joins Fakhar.
WICKET 114/3: Axar strikes this time, new man Haris packed back for a DUCK! Captain Salman Ali Agha joins Fakhar Zaman.
WICKET 126/4: Three wickets in last 13 deliveries. Varun delivers the prized scalp of Fakhar Zaman, who misses his his half century by four runs after slicing the ball to Kuldeep at point.
WICKET 126/5: Three wickets in last 13 deliveries. Varun delivers the prized scalp of Fakhar Zaman, who misses his his half century by four runs after slicing the ball to Kuldeep at point.
WICKET 126/4: Three wickets in last 13 deliveries. Varun delivers the prized scalp of Fakhar Zaman, who misses his his half century by four runs after slicing the ball to Kuldeep at point.
WICKET 114/3: Axar strikes this time, new man Haris packed back for a DUCK! Captain Salman Ali Agha joins Fakhar Zaman.
WICKET 113/2: Kuldeep strikes with Saim Ayub’s wicket. Ayub, like earlier in the over, couldn’t keep his cut down and offered a regulation chance to Bumrah at backward point. Pakistan 113/2, Mohammed Haris joins Fakhar.
100 up for Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman boshes it over part-timer Tilak Varma to bring up Pakistan’s hundred in the 12th over.
After 10 overs Pakistan races to 87/1. Saim Ayub, with four ducks in the tournament, joins Fakhar in the middle.
WICKET 84/1: Varun provides India with the breakthrough they were craving. Farhan departs a ball after slamming the mystery spinner for a SIX long over long on. The right-hander went for a second skier but this time is a bit cramped for room, and clinks it off the bottom half of the bat and arrows it towards Tilak at deep mid wicket.
Pakistan add 32 runs in three overs after powerplay to race to 77/0
Varun Chakravarthy’s introduction into the attack in the fifth over slowed down Pakistan’s scoring rate as the openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman failed to pick the mystery spinner out of the hand, instead relying on cross-bat shots. By the end of the powerplay, Pakistan must be pleased to reach 45/0, although they now have to tackle a barrage of spin on what seems like a slightly sluggish surface in Dubai.
Having said that, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are also into the attack. Both Farhan and Fakhar took their time against the wrist-spinner before Farhan pounds Kuldeep into the second tier over deep square leg for a SIX. Axar also gets a similar treatment from Farhan at the other end. Fakhar soon joined the onslaught depositing Kuldeep over deep mid-wicket for a flat SIX.
In the 9th over, Farhan completed his second T20I fifty against India off 35 deliveries while Fakhar also started gaining confidence.
Also, India have held onto two Bumrah overs for the back-end. A change prompted by Hardik's injury and the stakes in this game.
Pakistan off to a decent start
Pakistan openers Sahizada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman took advantage of the absence of injured Hardik Pandya to get off to a cautious start in the Asia Cup final.
Farhan opened up milking Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah for a couple of boundaries, even as Fakhar struggled to get going initially. The left-hander finally got going with an upper cut over short-third.
At the other end, Fakhar welcomed Bumrah back by mowing a shortish delivery over midwicket, and followed it up with a SIX over midwicket.
After 4 overs, Pakistan raced to 32/0.
Shivam Dubey will open the attack for India in the absence of Hardik. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman are the Pakistani openers at the crease.
Rinku replaces Hardik as India opt to field vs Pakistan
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl against an unchanged Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The Men-in-Blue made three changes to their Playing XI, including a forced change as star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who suffered an injury in Friday’s game against Sri Lanka, couldn’t regain full fitness. He was replaced by Rinku Singh.
Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah, rested from the previous match, returned to the XI.
Suryakumar Yadav wins toss and he decides to bat first. Surya says the wicket gets better under lights and his team would want to chase. Pakistani skipper Salman Agha says he is happy to bat first. Agha hopes the pitch will play the same in both innings.
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Suryakumar Yadav wins toss and he decides to bat first. Surya says the wicket gets better under lights and his team would want to chase. Pakistani skipper Salman Agha says he is happy to bat first. Agha hopes the pitch will play the same in both innings.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
Suryakumar Yadav wins toss and he decides to bat first. Surya says the wicket gets better under lights and his team would want to chase. Pakistani skipper Salman Agha says he is happy to bat first. Agha hopes the pitch will play the same in both innings.
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