Asia Cup 2025 Final: Tilak takes India over the line in thriller vs Pakistan

Sports News: Tilak Varma’s composed half-century and his vital stands with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube powered India to its second T20I Asia Cup crown and ninth overall, after beating Pakistan by five wickets in a tense final in Dubai on Sunday. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India has been dominant in T20Is, winning 18 games, losing only two and tying two since he became captain. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) triggered a sudden Pakistan collapse from 113/1 to 146 all out despite an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38, five fours, three sixes) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35, two fours, two sixes).

India’s shaky start in chase

Chasing 147, India slipped to 20/3 after a fiery burst from Faheem Ashraf (3/29). Tilak (69* off 53, three fours, four sixes) rebuilt the innings with Samson (24 off 21, two fours, one six) and later Dube (33 off 22, two fours, two sixes). Abhishek Sharma’s breakout tournament ended tamely as Haris Rauf caught him at mid-on off Faheem for five. India was 7/1 in 1.1 overs. Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form continued as Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him for one, while vice-captain Shubman Gill was taken at mid-on by Rauf for 12, leaving India reeling. The pair of Tilak and Samson steadied the chase, attacking Faheem for a four and a six to reach 36/3 after the powerplay. India crossed 50 in 8.1 overs and reached 58/3 after 10 overs with both unbeaten. Samson fell soon after for 24 as Sahibzada Farhan caught him at backward point, ending a 57-run stand at 77/4 in 12.2 overs.

India Pulls Off Thrilling Finish to Win

Pakistan’s spinners kept India quiet until the 14th over, conceding only one six. But Haris Rauf’s 15th over gave away 17 runs as Dube and Tilak counterattacked. India reached 100/4 after 15 overs with 47 needed from the last five. Abrar’s next over went for 11 runs and Tilak brought up a clutch fifty in 41 balls. Shaheen’s following over produced only six runs, leaving 30 to get off 18. A last-ball full toss from Haris was launched by Dube for a six, cutting the target to 17 off 12. Faheem’s next over saw three singles before Dube struck a four but was caught by Shaheen for 33 off the final ball. India needed 10 in the last over. Tilak ran two with Rinku Singh, then smashed a six. With scores level, Rinku finished it with a four. India closed at 150/5 in 19.4 overs, Tilak (69*) and Rinku (4*) unbeaten. Faheem Ashraf (3/29) led Pakistan’s bowling, with Shaheen and Abrar also taking a wicket each.

Pakistan’s innings in brief

Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s spin magic limited Pakistan to 146 in the final. After 113/2 in 12 overs, Pakistan added only 33 runs before folding. India missed Hardik Pandya for the final, and Suryakumar Yadav again skipped the handshake at the toss and the trophy photoshoot. India opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Farhan and Fakhar opened steadily, with Dube giving only four runs in the first over. Bumrah’s early overs were tight but Farhan struck him for a four and six in the fourth over. Pakistan reached 45 after the powerplay, bringing up fifty in the seventh over. Farhan hit back-to-back fifties against India. Varun Chakaravarthy gave India the first breakthrough by removing Farhan for 57.

Kuldeep then removed Saim Ayub for 14 and Axar Patel sent back Mohammad Haris for a duck. Chakaravarthy dismissed Fakhar for 46 in the 15th over. Axar also removed Hussain Talat for one. Kuldeep then trapped Salman Agha for eight and removed Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf for ducks to finish with 4/30. Bumrah bowled Haris Rauf with a yorker, copying an ‘aeroplane crash’ celebration in reply to his earlier gestures, and took the final wicket of Mohammed Nawaz to bowl Pakistan out for 146.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 146/10 (Sahibzada Farhan 57, Fakhar Zaman 46, Kuldeep Yadav 4/30) vs India 150/5 (Tilak Varma 69*, Shivam Dube 33, Faheem Ashraf 3/29).