India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday in Dubai. Unlike their first two matches in the tournament, this one was competitive, with Pakistan putting up a fight against the Men in Blue.
The final was especially memorable for Rinku Singh, who made his Asia Cup debut and instantly demonstrated his finishing prowess by hitting the first ball he faced for a boundary.
Chasing a goal of 147, India struggled early, losing three wickets for 20 runs. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, batted brilliantly, scoring 69 runs and stabilising the chase. With one run required from three balls, Rinku came to the crease and delivered under duress, striking a boundary to secure India’s triumph with two balls remaining.
Rinku spoke after the match about the importance of his position, underlining that he needed to make an effect from the first delivery he encountered.
“Nothing else matters. This one ball matters. One was needed. I hit it for a four. Everyone knows I am a finisher. The team won, and I am really happy,” Rinku told the host broadcasters after the victory.
Having slumped to 20/3 inside the first five overs, Tilak’s 69 not out off 53 proved to be a game-changer, while Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33 off 21) provided brilliant support to him as India chased down 147 in 19.4 overs.
The tension in the final was immense, fueled not just by the match itself but also by off-field events leading up to it. Yet the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav and guided by Gautam Gambhir, rose to the occasion, demonstrating remarkable fearlessness in high-pressure situations.
Kuldeep Yadav, who finished the tournament with 17 wickets, wreaked havoc with the ball, reducing Pakistan’s lower order to nine wickets for just 33 runs. Amid the top-order collapse, Tilak’s unusual calm under pressure became the defining factor in India’s chase, showing both skill and temperament.
India
