India defeated a valiant Pakistan to win the ACC Men T20 Asia Cup 2025 by five-wicket margin at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The lead hand was played by a middle-order batter Tilak Varma unbeaten 69, to steer the tense India chase of 147.
The duo of Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan eased down India at the very beginning, and left them 20/3 within four overs. The move by Skipper Suryakumar Yadav to send the first break also appeared to be jeopardized when Abhishek Sharma (5), Yadav (1) and Shubman Gill (12) were sent packing in the initial ballot. Varma and Sanju Samson however retaliated with a consistent 57-run alliance. Samson hit 24 out of 21 and went back to Abrar Ahmed.
As the match was yet to be decided, Shivam Dube came in to help Varma with a match-winning 60-run partnership. Dube had smashed 33 out of 22 when he was removed by Faheem in dying stages. A 69 made by Varma out of 53 balls with four sixes and three boundaries, helped India to make it to 147/5 with two balls remaining.
Previously, the batting of Pakistan had collapsed following a good start. Opener Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman put up an electrifying stand of 84 runs but both were dismissed and this led to a collapse. Farhan scored the most 57, and Fakhar scored 46 as Pakistan lost nine wickets in 19.1 overs and bowled out due to 146. Varun Chakravarthy was shinning with 4/30 and Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav recorded two each.
The triumph was a show of the strength of India and the maturity of Varma as defending champions beat their arch-rivals to win the Asia Cup again.
