INDIA has clinched the DP World Asia Cup 2025, registering a thrilling five-wicket win over archrival Pakistan in Sunday’s final with only two balls remaining at the Dubai International Stadium, finishing the tournament unbeaten.
It was India’s second T20 Asia Cup victory after 2016, and ninth overall since 1984, across formats.
It bears noting that alongside the victorious Men in Blue, Sony Pictures Networks India, the media rights holder for all Asian Cricket Council events for the Indian subcontinent through to 2031, had much to celebrate in what has been a dream tournament for the network financially. The first India-Pakistan final in Asia Cup history, after the two sides had met twice earlier in the tournament – in group play and Super Four — both won comfortably by India, will no doubt have set the cash registers ringing for SPNI.
Coming back to the on-field action, Pakistan’s innings began brightly, with Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) putting on an 84-run stand that hinted at a daunting total. But Kuldeep Yadav turned the contest on its head with a sensational spell of 4/30, sparking one of the game’s most dramatic collapses. From a dominant 84 without loss, Pakistan crumbled to 146 all out as India’s spin attack tightened its grip.
Tilak Varma anchored the chase with a composed 69 not out, steering India away from danger, while Rinku Singh struck the winning boundary to spark jubilant celebrations as the Team India won the trophy on the field of play.
