Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

NT Tilak Varma
NT Tilak Varma
69(53) 3x4 - 4x6
Control %86%
  • Productive Shot
  • pull
  • 14 runs
  • 0x4 - 2x6
8 0 3 16 21 7 8 6
Sahibzada Farhan
57(38) 5x4 - 3x6
Control %74%
  • Productive Shot
  • pull
  • 12 runs
  • 1x4 - 1x6
0 0 3 2 6 14 16 16

Best performances - Bowlers

Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav
O4
M0
R30
W4
Eco7.5
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
2W
Faheem Ashraf
Faheem Ashraf
O4
M0
R29
W3
Eco7.25
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
1W

Match Details

Toss

India , elected to field first

Player Of The Match

Player Of The Series

Series result

India won the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

18.30 start, First Session 18.30-20.00, Interval 20.00-20.20, Second Session 20.20-21.50

Match days

28 September 2025 - night match (20-over match)

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar

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.

19.4
4
Haris Rauf to Singh, FOUR, 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!
19.3
1
Haris Rauf to Tilak Varma, 1 run, 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?

19.2
6
Haris Rauf to Tilak Varma, SIX, 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

19.1
2
Haris Rauf to Tilak Varma, 2 runs, 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.

END OF OVER:
19 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 137/5 (10 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.21, RRR: 10.00)

  • Tilak Varma60 (50b)
  • Faheem Ashraf4-0-29-3
  • Haris Rauf3-0-37-0
18.6
W
Faheem Ashraf to Dube, OUT, 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!

S Dube c Shaheen Shah Afridi b Faheem Ashraf 33 (42m 22b 2x4 2x6) SR: 150

18.5
0
Faheem Ashraf to Dube, no run, 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

Videos

India 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st7Shubman GillAbhishek Sharma
2nd3SA YadavShubman Gill
3rd10Shubman GillNT Tilak Varma
4th57SV SamsonNT Tilak Varma
5th60S DubeNT Tilak Varma
6th13RK SinghNT Tilak Varma

Men's T20 Asia Cup

Super Fours
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33060.913
PAK32140.329
BAN3122-0.831
SL3030-0.418
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33063.547
PAK32141.79
UAE3122-1.984
OMA3030-2.6
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33061.278
BAN3214-0.27
AFG31221.241
HKG3030-2.151