Pakistan vs India, Final at Dubai, Asia Cup, Sep 28 2025 - Match Result

12:04am That will be all from us for tonight. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and you can catch up with all the analysis from this game and from the Asia Cup on ESPNcricinfo, along with all the cricket happening around the world. Until next time, from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo, it is goodbye!

Simon Doull, conducting the post-match presentation, says, "I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation."

Abhishek Sharma, Player of the Tournament: Getting a car is always a pleasure (smiles). Getting into this team after winning the World Cup was not easy for any opener. We had a plan that we have to play our game and show our intent from the first ball. Worked really hard on that. If you play like this, you need special support from the coach and captain and that is what I have been getting. If I do well, and get that impact innings for the team, we should win. If you want to play like this, you will get failures - that is the team you have to realize that if you play like this, you will win games for your team as well, and to just follow the process. I had a plan (on adjusting to different surfaces), and utilize the powerplay. Spinners, fast bowlers, any of the premium fast bowlers as well…I had it in my mind that I have to go from the first ball. That is going to help me give impact to my team and that is what happened.

Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan captain: (Where it went away) It is tough pill to swallow. We could not finish well in the batting. Bowling, we gave everything. If we could have finished well, it would have been a different story. We could not rotate the strike properly and we lost too many wickets. That was the reason we could not score what we wanted. We have to sort out our batting very soon. They bowled really well, outstandingly well. They needed 63 off six overs, I thought we had the game. The bowlers bowled really well, we have to give them credit, but the batting was a concern. (Journey in this Asia Cup) Very proud. We fought really well. We are proud as a team. So much to look forward to, we will improve and come back stronger.

Tilak Varma, Player of the Match: It was a bit of pressure, but I wanted to stay at the wicket and finish games. they were mixing up the pace. I wanted to just stay calm and finish the game for my country. It was a fantastic knock by Samson, it was really important for the team. The way Dube batted was also helpful for me and the country. Credit goes to both of them as well. Wwe have prepared for every position. Gauti bhai said to be flexible in every position. I was prepared to bat anywhere and I was backing on my game. I was working hard. Especially on wickets that are on the slower side like this…sweep shots, rotating strike, that has helped me. It is really special - one of the best innings in my lives. It goes for every Indian. Chak de India.

11:47pm The presentation ceremony is underway now. Stick around, we should be hearing from the captains soon, and from the Player of the Match and the Player of the Tournament.

11:10pm We are still awaiting the post-match presentation. It has been a longish gap, but do stick around, the presentation ceremony should hopefully happen soon.

VIP: "That's what you play cricket for! That feeling after coming in early and staying not out till the end. That feeling winning the pressure game for your nation. That feeling after winning the final. Well done Tilak Verma!!"

Mohan : "I am at a Yankees game with my daughter's school and I yelled out a shriek when Tilak hit the 6 of Rauf and the stadium is perplexed " -- Hope the game against the Baltimore Orioles is just as fascinating!

Rinku Singh: It was about contributing as much in whatever balls I got. I hit a good shot (when the runs were needed). Everyone calls me a finisher and I got a chance today. The team has won, so it feels great.

Morne Morkel: (How good it feels) Special performance by the boys tonight. Slightly behind the game in the second innings. Not our best powerplay with the bat. Guys summed up conditions with the ball. Nice opportunity for Dube and he set the tone beautifully, and what a way to finish with the bat. (On Dube's bowling) That was something we discussed, that is might be an opportunity for him to use the new ball. Unfortunately, he (Hardik) got injured and he (Dube) had to step up. Practice sessions are focused, they know how to go and get themselves ready. It was hot in Dubai, so had to manage that well. We played a lot of back to back games, so to recover was key. Wanted to get into a good mental space. It was about who would hold their nerve well. Shivam as well, taking that partnership with Tilak deep, was key.

Varun Chakravarthy: Feel great. At the time, I was going for wickets. Fakhar and Farhan were going well. I had done some planning, but it worked out in a way. Kuldeep came in and finished it. That gave me memories of KKR winning. If you see the trend, the first ten overs everyone is going berserk. After that, we know if we bowl in the right spaces, we can curtail them down. I want to mention Hari - he has done a lot of work behind the scenes.

Kuldeep Yadav: It is very important to bowl in the middle overs. We (the spinners), playing together, it is a luxury to have. Everyone has a different role. They started really well. After 10-11 overs, they were 100-1. We knew if we could get a couple of wickets, then it was not going to be easy for the new batter to come in and score runs. When I was bowling the first over, I was trying to get them out. Before the game, he just send the screenshot of the lengths where we had to bowl to the batters, and big thanks to Hari. And a masterclass from Tilak - he was unbelievable today.

Gill: Pretty amazing. The whole tournament, unbeaten, it feels pretty amazing to be in this position. (On batting with Abhishek) Pretty amazing. We have played almost all our cricket together. We know each other inside out and amazing to be able to bat with him. Takes off the pressure off the non-striker and he has been phenomenal throughout this tournament. (On the nerves at the end) The conversation was to take it as deep as possible. The target was not much but important to soak in the pressure. Losing three wickets early, never easy. The partnership with Sanju and Tilak, and then how Dube hit those big sixes, it was very important. Final, playing against them, 30 runs in three overs, there was not much panic but the game can go both ways. The boundaries are big here, so you really need to connect. The way they (Tilak and Dube) batted, they ensured they hit it out of the park.

Samson: Really enjoyed the pressure. Not played many Ind-Pak games but the pressure was there. I had to use my experience, calm my nerves, watch the ball and react. Came off well today. Had a good partnership with Tilak and really enjoyed playing the game today. The game dictates what type of cricket you need to play. You have to respect the conditions and the situation. That is what we have learned after years and years in the IPL. Was just looking to time the ball, and that is what helped me. Closer ones (matches) are really good and that is when your character is tested, and you get to test your mental ability. This game was really crucial (before T20 World Cup).

10:32pm Tilak Varma. What a star. They say when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And boy did the going get tough for India today. Abhishek, so often their turbocharger at the top of the order, fell in the second over. SKY, one of the greatest T20 batters India has ever produced, fell soon after. And Gill, long touted for greatness, could not last the powerplay either.

But Tilak stood there. In the face of adversity and cool as a cucumber. He absorbed the pressure, took his chances at just the right time and ensured India were on their way. Samson did his best too, even if his shot to get dismissed was a little ungainly. Dube, who was rested on Friday and came into the side tonight, was equally enterprising, with his cameo breaking the back of this run-chase.

A final and ultimately a tournament of what could have been for Pakistan. They seemed to have India under control and their scoring under check, but then Agha opted to bowl Rauf for the 15th, breaking up the spin duopoly of Abrar and Ayub. That proved to be pivotal, with India ransacking 17 and turning the momentum. Pakistan tried to reestablish a foothold thereafter, but it always felt as if they were playing catch-up, before ultimately falling short.

2 off 4. Surely India will not botch this from here?

8 off 5. How are the nerves? Only four out on the fence, remember

Right. Three weeks of cricket, several astonishing displays, plenty of drama, and the Asia Cup has come down to this. The final, folks, has come down to the final over. Rauf will bowl. Tilak, who has brought India this far, on strike. Pakistan, though, have to have an extra fielder in the ring because of a slow over-rate.

Three balls, three singles. 14 off 9 now. Dube seems to be standing outside off now

Faheem has received treatment and is is now set to bowl. And we should get the game underway after what has felt like an eternity, especially given the stakes and the tension. Faheem has changed his angle of attack too. Over the wicket now

SRI: "I am predicting a Super over " -- If it gets to that stage, India will be disappointed.

The physio is out to check on Faheem. Certainly looks like a bout of cramp, and with Rauf having bowled the 18th, and with only spinners having their quota left, it is imperative for Pakistan that Faheem bowls. But can he operate at full tilt? And does this break help Pakistan regroup? A bit of déjà vu maybe for India, who turned things around after an injury break at last year's T20 World Cup final, although the shoe is on the other foot tonight.

17 off 12, and that six off 17.6 has put India right in control of this chase. Rana runs out to Tilak and Dube, perhaps with an instruction. Soon greeted by the umpire and he now jogs off. Faheem to bowl the penultimate over. Pakistan need him to produce something special. Around the wicket. And if the tension was not enough, Faheem pulls up after almost going through with his delivery stride. Looks to be cramping. Good to go again. Or maybe not. Faheem pulls up yet again, and this is not looking good for Pakistan.

Kunal: "Wait, what happens if the ball "lands on the adjacent strip" (I mean beyond Rauf being embarrassed) " -- It is called a No ball, provided it lands beyond the cut strip and before it has passed the stumps.

15 balls since the last boundary. 24 off 14

30 off 18, and this is getting tense. Rauf returns. And to add to the drama, Rauf misses his run-up at the first time of asking. We go again. Over the wicket

Just five off the over so far