India are champions. Again. And again. And again! The most successful nation ever at the Asia Cup and the gold standard, now has a ninth jewel in a burgeoning continental crown! And the champions of the world, bustling with intent, dripping with talent, bubbling with star-power, and carrying an aura and a sense of inevitability about being the best side at the tournament, are now, across formats and undisputedly, also the champions of the continent! And the deal has been sealed by Rinku Singh, who ends the Asia Cup with a strike rate of 400. This is in the slot on off stump. Rinku plants his front foot and clatters it over mid on. Tilak is absolutely delighted, and he should be. This was an innings and some, and it came when India were reeling early in the powerplay, and it came at a time when India needed a hero. What a knock, what a player, and what a conclusion to this Asia Cup!
Pakistan vs India, Final at Dubai, Asia Cup, Sep 28 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
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.
length ball on middle and leg. Tilak punches it towards mid off and then sprints like there is no tomorrow. Makes it comfortably and the scores are now level!
2 off 4. Surely India will not botch this from here?
Tilak whacks it out of sight, and brings India closer to yet another Asia Cup title! What a player! Slower ball dug into the track outside off. Tilak reads it like the morning daily, sets himself up and smears it over deep square leg. Gautam Gambhir is pumped!
8 off 5. How are the nerves? Only four out on the fence, remember
just over Haris Rauf! Badgered in on a back of a length outside off. Tilak gets down on the sweep and toe-ends it horribly. The ball flies just over Rauf and then holds up, allowing Rinku to scamper back for two
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.
Dube holes out to long off, and this game twists and turns yet again! Hard length, slanted across the batter outside off. Dube sits deep in his crease and looks to swat this down the ground. Cuts across this slower ball a little too much, though, and that brings Shaheen into play. He stands right on the fence, judges the catch superbly and takes it in front of his face. Faheem is pumped, and he knows the value of this wicket!
slower ball on a length outside off. Dube looks to smash this into next week and only swats away a few flies in the process. Dube will be disappointed with that
that is a terrific hit! And that is very smart batting too. Dube was anticipating that line and was standing outside off. He moves a further step across, reaches this short ball hugging the tramlines and wallops it to long on's left!
Three balls, three singles. 14 off 9 now. Dube seems to be standing outside off now
dug in short again, and well outside off. Tilak has to reach out for it and shanks it towards long on
dug into the track wide outside off. Dube swings at it with all his might but only manages a clink off the toe-end towards long on
length ball hung up wide outside off. Tilak fetches his sweep from well outside the line and drags it towards square leg. Good stop in the ring
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.
full toss and Dube deposits it into the stands! Massive, massive moment in the final! Rauf misses his mark and dishes out a hit-me ball. And Dube does not miss out. He sits deep in his crease and clubs this over the deep mid wicket fence!
into the blockhole wide outside off. Tilak cannot do much with this and shanks it towards deep mid wicket
15 balls since the last boundary. 24 off 14
low full toss hung up way outside off. Tilak gets down on the sweep, fetches it and with a wristy flick, helps it past square leg for a brace
full and wide outside off. Full enough to deny Dube from getting under it and he clinks it off the toe-end towards sweeper cover
on the bounce to sweeper cover! Rauf hides this well outside off again. On a fullish length and Tilak flays it away. He might feel he should have found the gap
oh dear - that is...very wide! Very wide is also probably understating this. Seems like a slower ball that has gone wrong. Seems to land on the adjacent strip, but the ball may have crossed the stumps by then. Replays confirm the ball pitched on the adjacent strip after passing the stumps, meaning it will only be a wide. Rauf's blushes spared!
slower low full toss outside off. Dube chunks it towards extra cover and picks up a single
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
thigh-high full toss, tailing back into off stump. Dube is taken by surprise and hurriedly jabs it towards deep mid wicket
Just five off the over so far
excellent yorker on off stump. Tilak jams down on it and digs it out towards mid off
slower ball on a fullish length just outside off. Tilak has an ungainly whoosh at it and squirts it off the inside edge towards short fine leg. Abrar misfields and Tilak gets two for his toil
Over 20 • IND 150/5
India won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
Powered by Smart Stats