Dubai, Sep 28 (UNI) Cometh the hour, cometh the men — Tilak Varma and Kuldeep Yadav rose to the big stage as India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to lift the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium here today.
Tilak was the ice in the fire, holding the innings together with a superb 69 off 53 balls when wickets tumbled around him. Calm, composed, and classy- he showed maturity beyond his years, first steadying India after a top-order wobble and then launching into Pakistan’s attack when it mattered most. And when the final act arrived, Rinku Singh smashed the winning boundary in the 20th over to send Indian fans into delirium.
“Nothing else matters. This one ball matters. One was needed. I hit it for a four. Everyone knows I am a finisher. Team won and I am really happy,” Rinku said after delivering the killer blow.
But make no mistake- this triumph was set up by Kuldeep Yadav. The wrist-spinner spun a web around Pakistan’s middle and lower order, his spell of 4 for 30 ripping the heart out of a batting lineup that had threatened to run away with the game. From 113 for 1, Pakistan crumbled to 146 all out in 19.1 overs, undone by Kuldeep’s guile and India’s disciplined attack.
Chasing 147, India slipped early as Abhishek Sharma (5), captain Suryakumar Yadav (1) and Shubman Gill (12) fell cheaply. Sanju Samson (24) provided resistance before Tilak and Shivam Dube (33 off 22 balls) swung the momentum back.
A couple of lusty blows from Dube kept the chase alive, and Tilak’s big six in the 19th over left India just two runs away. Rinku then sealed it in style, lofting Haris Rauf over mid-on to spark wild celebrations.
This was India’s ninth Asia Cup title, winning in 1984, 1988, 1990/91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2025. Sri Lanka follows with six championships, clinching victories in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and 2022. Pakistan has secured the title twice, in 2000 and 2012.
India have now won four of the last five Asia Cup competitions, nine overall (seven ODIs and two T20Is — the most for any team). The Men in Blue have also extended their dominance in multi-nation T20 tournaments, winning each of the 17 completed matches since 2023: two at the Asian Games 2023, eight at the T20 World Cup 2024, and seven at the Asia Cup 2025.
India remain unbeaten in men’s T20I tournaments, winning the Asia Cup 2016, Asian Games 2023, T20 World Cup 2024, and Asia Cup 2025.
India’s blend of youth and experience delivered under pressure, with Tilak’s maturity and Kuldeep’s artistry standing tall on the biggest night. The Asia Cup 2025 belonged to India, and fittingly so.
