Asia Cup Final 2025: Tilak Varma and Kuldeep Yadav Power India to Ninth Title
The Asia Cup 2025 final at the Dubai International Stadium turned into a classic India vs. Pakistan thriller. What started as a Pakistan-dominated first half quickly shifted into an Indian comeback, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav’s magical spell and Tilak Varma’s mature batting. In the end, India held their nerve to chase down 147 with five wickets and two balls to spare, securing their ninth Asia Cup title.
It was a game that had everything—aggressive batting, a dramatic collapse, nerve-wracking pressure, and a young hero rising on the big stage.
Pakistan’s Promising Start
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan’s openers started with solid intent. Sahibzada Farhan, who has been in great touch throughout the tournament, once again looked confident. Facing Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube, he took his time initially but didn’t miss opportunities to score.
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Powerplay score: 45/0 in 6 overs
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Boundaries: 5 fours, 1 six
Fakhar Zaman also joined the party with a couple of boundaries, and the two ensured Pakistan didn’t lose a wicket early. At this point, Pakistan looked well on course for a big total.
Farhan’s Fifty Keeps Pakistan Ahead
As the power play ended, Farhan shifted gears. He smashed Kuldeep Yadav for a six and picked boundaries off Axar Patel, displaying a mix of caution and aggression.
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Farhan completed his fifty in just 35 balls.
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He and Fakhar Zaman added 84 runs for the second wicket.
By the 12th over, Pakistan had stormed to 113/1. With wickets in hand and set batters at the crease, the team looked set for a total of 180 or more. But cricket is a game of quick turnarounds, and what happened next stunned everyone.
Kuldeep Yadav Sparks Pakistan’s Collapse
Just when Pakistan seemed unstoppable, Kuldeep Yadav produced a game-changing spell. His control, variation, and flight trapped the middle and lower order in knots.
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Kuldeep took three wickets in a single over.
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His figures: 4 overs – 30 runs – 4 wickets
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Victims included Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, and Shaheen Afridi.
Supporting him, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also kept things tight, building relentless pressure. The result? Pakistan’s innings imploded spectacularly.
From 113/1 in 12 overs, they were bowled out for 146 in 19.1 overs. Their last nine wickets fell for just 33 runs.
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Death Overs Stats (Pakistan): 18/6 in last 5 overs
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Top scorer: Farhan (57), Fakhar (46)
India’s Nervy Start
Chasing 147 should have been comfortable, but pressure in an India-Pakistan final is different. Pakistan’s pace attack struck early blows.
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Abhishek Sharma fell cheaply for 6.
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Captain Suryakumar Yadav (5) continued his poor run.
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Shubman Gill (12) couldn’t convert his start.
By the end of the powerplay, India was struggling at 36/3. The momentum was firmly with Pakistan, and the final looked set for a tense finish.
Tilak Varma—The Calm in the Storm
At this stage, Tilak Varma walked in and showcased composure far beyond his age. He absorbed the pressure, rotated the strike smartly, and picked boundaries when opportunities came.
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Tilak’s half-century came off 41 balls.
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He struck 5 fours and 2 sixes.
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Played as the anchor, guiding India’s chase
First, Tilak stitched a stabilizing partnership with Sanju Samson (20 runs), and later, he found a strong ally in Shivam Dube (33 runs). Together, they took the game deep, ensuring India stayed in the hunt.
Shivam Dube’s Big-Hitting at the Right Time
With the required run rate climbing over 10 in the 17th over, India needed some quick runs. That’s when Shivam Dube unleashed his power-hitting.
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He hit Haris Rauf for a six and a four in a crucial over.
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Scored 33 off 24 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes
Dube’s timely boundaries eased the pressure and allowed Tilak to continue playing smart cricket at the other end. Their partnership proved to be the turning point in India’s chase.
The Dramatic Final Over
India needed 10 runs off the final over. Haris Rauf, Pakistan’s premier death bowler, was trusted with the responsibility. The tension in the stadium was palpable.
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1st ball: Tilak – 2 runs
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2nd ball: Tilak – six over square leg 🎯
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3rd ball: Tilak – single (scores level)
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4th ball: Rinku Singh (facing first ball of the tournament)—boundary over mid-on 🚀
India sealed the chase with 150/5 in 19.4 overs, lifting the Asia Cup once again in front of a packed Dubai crowd.
Where Was the Game Won?
The clear difference came in the death overs.
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Pakistan: 18/6 in last 5 overs (collapse)
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India: 50/1 in last 5 overs (calm finish)
Pakistan had outscored India in both the powerplay and middle overs. But their batting collapse in the final phase left them 20–30 runs short. That gap proved decisive, as India managed their chase smartly despite an early wobble.
Brief Scores
Pakistan – 146 in 19.1 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 57, Fakhar Zaman 46; Kuldeep Yadav 4-30, Axar Patel 2-26)
India – 150/5 in 19.4 overs (Tilak Varma 69*, Shivam Dube 33; Faheem Ashraf 3-29, Shaheen Afridi 1-20)
Result – India won by 5 wickets. 🏆
India Crowned Asia Cup Champions—For the Ninth Time
This win added another golden chapter to India’s dominance in Asian cricket. With their ninth Asia Cup title, India once again proved why they are called a big-match team.
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Kuldeep Yadav turned the match with his brilliant 4-wicket haul.
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Tilak Varma showcased maturity beyond his years, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 69.
For fans, this final will be remembered for the drama, intensity, and the rise of a new match-winner in Tilak Varma. India’s balance of youth and experience once again delivered when it mattered most.
Q1. Who won the Asia Cup 2025 Final?
India won the Asia Cup 2025 Final, defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets in Dubai. This was India’s 9th Asia Cup title.
Q2. Who was the hero of the Asia Cup 2025 Final?
Two players stood out for India:
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Kuldeep Yadav – 4 wickets for 30 runs, triggering Pakistan’s collapse.
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Tilak Varma – an unbeaten 69* that anchored India’s chase under pressure.
Q3. What was the score of India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Final?
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Pakistan: 146 all out in 19.1 overs (Farhan 57, Fakhar 46; Kuldeep 4-30)
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India: 150/5 in 19.4 overs (Tilak 69*, Dube 33; Faheem 3-29)
Q4. Where was the Asia Cup 2025 Final played?
The final was played at the Dubai International Stadium, UAE.
Q5. Who was the highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup 2025 Final?
India’s Tilak Varma top-scored with an unbeaten 69 runs, guiding India to victory.
Q6. How many Asia Cups has India won till 2025?
With this victory, India has now won the Asia Cup 9 times, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
Q7. What was the turning point of the Asia Cup 2025 Final?
The turning point was Kuldeep Yadav’s spell, where Pakistan collapsed from 113/1 to 146 all-out, losing 9 wickets for just 33 runs.
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