India win Asia Cup by five wickets as Tilak Varma hits 69 to guide them home against Pakistan in thrilling final
Updated 28/09/2025 at 20:50 GMT+1
Hello and welcome to TNT Sports' live coverage of the 2025 Men's Asia Cup Final as old foes India and Pakistan face off for the third time this tournament. India won both the previous two contests in relatively convincing fashion, can Pakistan find something else for the final and spring a shock? Or will India make it three wins and defend the Asia Cup? Watch live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Watch 'extraordinary' run out in India-Pakistan clash - 'Not surprised he's shaking his head!'
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India win Asia Cup
Tilak Varma hit an unbeaten 69 to guide India to victory in the Asia Cup against Pakistan by five wickets in a dramatic final.
Tilak put on 60 for the fifth wicket with Shivam Dube (33) to take India to the brink, and then with his side needing 10 off the last over, hit eight off the first two balls to effectively end the contest.
Pakistan's batting collapse looked to have given India a comfortable chase. From 113-1, where Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35 balls) had put them in a position to post a formidable total, they fell away to 146 all out.
Varun Chakravarthy (2-30) took the wickets of both openers, then Pakistan mostly gave their wickets away with spinners Kuldeep Yadav (4-30) and Axar Patel (2-26) blowing through the middle order, before Jasprit Bumrah cleaned out the tail-enders.
Pakistan's opening bowlers gave themselves a chance, though, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking the big wicket of skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Faheem Ashraf taking the wickets of openers Abhishek Sharma (5) and Shubman Gill (12).
Haris Rauf took both catches off Faheem, but with ball in hand his overs cost his side, conceding 30 off two of the last five overs, then 12 off four balls in the last.
India win by five wickets! (2 balls to spare)
Rauf bowls the last over and Tilak hits the second for six. Rinku then hits the winning runs with a boundary off his first ball.
Ten needed off the last over!
Rinku joins Tilak, on 60, in the middle. Due to a slow over rate another fielder has to be in the infield.
Wicket! c Shaheen b Faheem 33
India 137-5 (19 Overs)
Faheem needed treatment for cramp but was able to continue. After three balls went for singles, Dube moved across to carve the fourth for a boundary, but top-edged the last ball and it was taken a yard in from the boundary at long off.
India 130-4 (18 Overs) - Tilak 58, Dube 28
It seemed kamakaze giving the ball to Rauf and though he bowled to orders pitching outside off stump, the last ball, a full toss, was smacked over midwicket by Dube for six. 17 to win off 2 overs now.
India 117-4 (17 Overs) - Tilak 54, Dube 20
A good over from Shaheen but his side needed wickets really.
India 111-4 (16 Overs) - Tilak 50, Dube 18
Dube hits a big six over midwicket off Abrar's first ball, then the Indian batsman knock the ball around with Tilak bringing up his 50 off 41 balls.
India 100-4 (15 Overs) - Tilak 48, Dube 10
A great over from India and you have to think it was a mistake bringing Rauf back on. He is immediately smacked past cover point for four by Dube and Tilak drills a full ball past the bowler down the ground and swipes the last ball high over long leg.
India 83-4 (14 Overs) - Tilak 37, Dube 4
Tilak close to being run out after being sent back by Dube for a second run. It felt like Haris could have been sharper with his handling of the throw.
India 78-4 (13 Overs) - Tilak 35, Dube 1
A fantastic spell from Abrar. He could have had a wicket in his first over and got one here.
Wicket! Samson c Farhan b Abrar 24
India 77-4 (12.2 Overs)
A slower ball sees Abrar get big turn off the surface and Samson get under the ball and give Farhan an easy catch.
India 76-3 (12 Overs) - Tilak 34, Samson 24
Saim put pressure on with three consecutive dot balls but then Samson hit a fantastic six over long on after rocking on his back foot.
India 69-3 (11 Overs) - Tilak 33, Samson 18
Tilak flat-bats a six, the first of the innings, between deep midwicket and long on. Pakistan need a wicket in the next over or two.
India 58-3 (10 Overs) - Tilak 23, Samson 15
Saim bowls his first over and it is a good one with just four singles coming off it. Almost a period of phoney war before the drinks break.
India 54-3 (9 Overs) - Tilak 22, Samson 14
Hussain drops a catch running in from the midwicket boundary off Abrar. He had two hands on the ball and should have taken it. As well as they are bowling they need wickets quickly to have a chance of winning.
India 49-3 (8 Overs) - Tilak 20, Samson 11
Rauf has been a star in the field. Now he has to do it with the ball, but Samson makes no mistake pulling a slightly short delivery over midwicket for four.
India 43-3 (7 Overs) - Tilak 19, Samson 5
Pakistan bring spin in to play with Nawaz and he is swept to the boundary by Tilak off his second ball, but a tidy over elsewhere.
India 36-3 (6 Overs) - Tilak 14, Samson 4
Tilak with a fine back foot drive between cover and mid off for a boundary and then helps himself to a six from a slow ball outside leg stump.
India 25-3 (5 Overs) - Tilak 3, Samson 4
A beautiful cover drive from Samson gives India a welcome boundary and a boost off the last ball of the over.
Wicket! Gill c Rauf b Faheem 10
India 20-3 (4 Overs)
Gill pulled in front of square for four and then looked ot smash the final ball over mid on but Rauf leapt up to take a brilliant catch.
India 12-2 (3 Overs) - Gill 5, Tilak 1
There was a delay as Gill complained about the spider cam being in his eyeline and he is then close to being run out off the last ball.
Wicket! Suryakumar c Salman b Shaheen 1
India 10-2 (2.3 Overs)
Caught at mid off with Salman diving forward to take the catch. He did not walk and replays looked at the catch but Salman's hands were under the ball and the Indian skipper has to go.
India 10-1 (2 Overs) - Gill 4, Suryakumar 1
Pakistan needed an early wicket and they got it. You wouldn't think India take many chances with Shaheen now.
Wicket! Abishek c Rauf b Faheem 5
India 7-1 (1.1 Over)
A clever wider slow ball sees Abishek spoon a catch to Rauf at mid on. Game on? We'll need a few more early wickets.
India 7-0 (1 Over) - Abishek 5, Gill 2
A good over from Shaheen, beating Abishek three times, though a push does go to the point boundary.
Pakistan 146 all out
Wicket! Nawaz c Rinku b Bumrah
Nawaz makes a good connection but hits high in the air to the midwicket boundary where Rinku takes a catch.
From 113-1 to 146 all out, you have to say that's a shambles.
Pakistan 146-9 (19 Overs) - Nawaz 6, Ahmed 1
Their minds are scrambled now. Unsure whether to take singles or farm the strike, there is a little confusion but at least they get to the last over.
Pakistan 141-9 (18 Overs) - Nawaz 2, Ahmed 0
Two overs to go and Pakistan will just hope to see these out now.
Wicket! Rauf b Bumrah 6
Pakistan 141-9 (17.5 Overs)
You can't blame the lower order playing the best fast bowler in the world. After getting six runs in the over, Rauf plays around a full delivery.
Wicket! Faheem c Tilak b Kuldeep 0
Pakistan 134-8 (17 overs)
A great over from Kuldeep, he bowls slower and Faheem's eyes light up but he is not close to hitting over long off and holes out.
Wicket! Shaheen lbw b Kuldeep 0
Pakistan 134-7 (16.4 Overs)
It goes from bad to worse for Pakistan. A good challenge there.
Shaheen Not out! (16.2 overs)
Shaheen was given out first ball leg before to Kuldeep but he referred straight away and replays showed it hit his gloves before pad.
Wicket! Salman c Samson b Kuldeep 8
Pakistan 133-6 (16.1 Overs)
Another pre-meditated swipe, another skied ball and another catch for the Indian wicketkeeper as Pakistan's challenge falls apart.
Pakistan 133-5 (16 Overs) - Salman 8, Nawaz 1
Suddenly, from looking at 190 a few overs ago, Pakistan will just be hoping to get over 160 to give themselves something to bowl at.
Wicket! Hussain c Samson b Patel 1
Pakistan 131-5 (15.3 Overs)
A slower ball is top-edged high into the air and caught by wicketkeeper Samson.
Pakistan 128-4 (15 Overs) - Salman 4, Hussain 1
Three wickets in as many overs has seen India wrest favouritism in the match. Pakistan need someone to take them to a competitive total now.
Wicket! Fakhar 46 c Kuldeep b Varun
Pakistan 126-4 (14.4 Overs)
After a huge six down the ground, Fakhar looks to cut high for another maximum but gives Kuldeep a comfortable catch.
Pakistan 118-3 (14 Overs) - Fakhar 38, Salman 4
The game has turned. Pakistan need to regroup if they are to post a decent total.
Wicket! Haris c Rinku b Patel 0
Pakistan 114-3 (13.3 Overs)
A beautiful looking shot from Haris lofting high to wide long off but he picks out Rinku a few metres in from the boundary.
Pakistan 113-2 (13 Overs) - Fakhar 36, Haris 0
Haris is brought up the order to join Fakhar in the middle.
Wicket! Saim c Bumrah b Kuldeep 14
Pakistan 113-2 (12.5 Overs)
Saim looks to cut Kuldeep to the boundary behind point but picks out Bumrah who makes a smart catch.
Pakistan 107-1 (12 Overs) - Fakhar 33, Saim 13
Tilak comes into bowl and Fakhar comes down the pitch to smack the second delivery straight down the ground for four and bring up the Pakistan hundred off 68 balls.
Pakistan 98-1 (11 Overs) - Fakhar 25, Saim 11
Dube comes back into the attack and Fakhar tries to scoop his second ball to fine leg but the bowler slowed his speed and the ball was toed to vacant midwicket. Saim pulls the next delivery for four to midwicket, then classily flicks the ball to fine leg for another boundary.
Pakistan 87-1 (10 Overs) - Fakhar 25, Saim 1
Saim joins Fakhar in the middle. He does not come into this game in much form, a good time to change that.
Pakistan would definitely have taken this score at the halfway stage.
Wicket! Farhan c Varma b Varun 57
84-1 (9.4 overs)
He hit his third six over long on, before swiping the next straight to Varma at cow corner. He is angry with himself but he has played a fine knock for his side.
Pakistan 77-0 (9 Overs) - Farhan 51, Fakhar 22
Farkhar sweeps Kuldeep high over square leg into the crowd, but next ball is lucky not to be stumped as the ball went through him but flicked his pad and was not taken by the wicketkeeper. Farhan brings up his half century with a cut over point.
Pakistan 64-0 (8 Overs) - Farhan 47, Fakhar 15
Patel bowling again and Farhan sweeps in front of square for the only boundary of the over.
Pakistan 56-0 (7 Overs) - Farhan 40, Fakhar 14
Kuldeep takes the ball and doesn't give away any easy runs, until the last ball which he drops short on leg stump and Farhan deposits high over square leg.
Pakistan 45-0 (6 Overs) - Farhan 31, Fakhar 12
Patel comes into bowl and the Pakistan batsmen also find it hard to get him away. Farhan steps back on the last ball of the powerplay and hits a cross-batted shot over wide mid off for four.
Pakistan 37-0 (5 Overs) - Farhan 26, Fakhar 9
Leg spin googly bowling from Varun and he bowls a very tight line. You get the feeling Pakistan are losing runs not getting twos when they could be on offer, settling for singles.
Pakistan 32-0 (4 Overs) - Farhan 24, Fakhar 7
Bumrah seems easier to hit, he batters the first over the wide mid on area for four and then smacks the third over the covers for six. The fifth ball is edged by Fakhar but bounces short of the keeper.
Pakistan 19-0 (3 Overs) - Farhan 12, Fakhar 6
It really has been a great job from Dube. Four singles from the first five balls before Fakhar came down the wicket and adjust to a short ball lapping it over the keeper for four.
Pakistan 11-0 (2 Overs) - Farhan 10, Fakhar 0
Bumrah bowls the second over and is getting it to swing. Farhan is struggling to put bat on the moving ball outside off stump in the conditions, but once more he clobbers the penultimate ball for four, this one an ungainly swipe over the covers.
Pakistan 4-0 (1 Over) - Farhan 4, Fakhar 0
A very good start from Dube bowling four dot balls before Farhan smacked the penultimate one over mid on for four.
We're ready to go...
Shivam Dube taking the new ball for India. He's never done this before for India. A lot of pressure on him...
Pakistan keep same XI
Hardik out for India
A blow for India to not have Hardik Panya available due to a niggle. Shivram Dube comes into their side.
India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
India opt to field
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat.
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Thanks for joining our coverage of the Asia Cup Final between India and Pakistan. What a match this should be.
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