PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE
India won the Asia Cup 2025 with a spectacular and spirited all-round display, beating its arch-rival Pakistan in the final. Though they had a modest 147 to chase, the team landed in early trouble as Abhishek Sharma (5), skipper Suryakumar Yadav (1) and Shubman Gill (12) fell cheaply. Sanju Samson steadied things for India with a 24, but it was Tilak Varma who proved to be the sheet -anchor at a difficult time with a cool half-century that steered the team home. Varma’s unperturbed temperament coupled with Shivam Dube’s aggression helped India cross the finish line.
Earlier, Pakistan started promisingly after being asked to bat first. The partnership involving the openers Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35 balls) put India on the back foot thanks to the fireworks they presented. With 84 for no loss on the scoreboard, Pakistan looked set to put a daunting target for India to chase.
However, the game turned dramatically once India put its spinners into play. Kuldeep Yadav dismantled the middle order with a superb four-wicket haul while Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel chipped in with two wickets each. Further, Jasprit Bumrah’s disciplined bowling earned him two scalps. Pakistan finally collapsed to 146 in 19.1 overs, leaving India to go for a manageable chase.
Experts said that Tilak Varma steered India home while holding his nerve with an unbeaten innings of 69 runs.
A controversy unfolded as the Indian team refused to accept Asia Cup winners’ trophy from Pakistan minister and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi. However, India’s player of the final Varma, top batter Abhishek Sharma and bowler Kuldeep Yadav did collect their cheques though not from Naqvi.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates celebrated the country’s ninth Asia Cup victory with a mock trophy.
