India claimed their 9th Asia Cup title with a thrilling 5-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a controversy as the Indian team refused to accept the winner’s trophy and medals during the presentation ceremony. The protest came after Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Interior Minister of Pakistan, insisted on presenting the trophy. As a result, the ceremony was delayed for over an hour, and no official trophy handover took place.
Tilak Varma Leads India’s Run Chase
Chasing a modest target of 147, India stumbled early, losing Abhishek Sharma (5), Suryakumar Yadav (1), and Shubman Gill (7) within the first three overs, as Pakistan bowlers Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi rattled the top order.
At 10/2, 22-year-old Tilak Varma steadied the innings with a composed partnership with Sanju Samson (24 off 21), followed by a crucial stand with Shivam Dube (27 off 22). Varma remained unbeaten on 69 runs off 53 balls, including four sixes and three fours, guiding India to victory with five balls to spare. Rinku Singh finished the chase by hitting the winning shot off his first delivery, sealing the memorable moment when India wins Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan’s Middle-Order Collapse
After a strong start by Farhan (57) and Zaman (46), Pakistan collapsed from 113/2 to 146 all out, losing eight wickets in 38 balls.None of the middle-order batters managed to cross double digits.
Kuldeep Yadav Steals the Show
Kuldeep Yadav was India’s standout performer with the ball, finishing with figures of 4/30. He was ably supported by Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy, each taking a wicket. Yadav also ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets, while Abhishek Sharma finished as the top run-scorer with 314 runs.
Trophy Controversy Overshadows Triumph
The on-field brilliance was accompanied by off-field drama. The Indian players made it clear that they would not accept the trophy from Naqvi, resulting in a tense and delayed ceremony. Only Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav collected their prize cheques. The team celebrated their ninth Asia Cup victory with a mock trophy in the dressing room..
Also Read : Pakistan Beat Bangladesh, Enter Asia Cup 2025 Final vs India
Key Takeaways from the Final
- India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets to claim their 9th Asia Cup title.
- Tilak Varma starred with an unbeaten 69*.
- Kuldeep Yadav tore through Pakistan’s batting with 4 crucial wickets.
- Pakistan collapsed from 113/2 to 146 all out.
- India refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, overshadowing the presentation ceremony.
Final Scorecard
- Pakistan: 146 all out (19.1 overs)
- India: 150/5 (19.4 overs)
With this win, India wins Asia Cup 2025, strengthening their dominance over Pakistan, now leading 12-3 in recent matches. Fans will remember Tilak Varma’s calm innings and Kuldeep Yadav’s spin, while the trophy controversy added off-field drama.
