The stage is set at the Dubai International Stadium for a historic clash as India and Pakistan face off in the Asia Cup 2025 final. While the rivalry is familiar, this marks the first time the two nations will battle for the Asia Cup title. All eyes are on India's in-form opener, Abhishek Sharma, who is on the verge of breaking multiple records held by cricketing giants like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Sharma has been a standout performer throughout the tournament, amassing 309 runs. This includes three consecutive half-centuries in the Super 4 stage, with scores of 74, 75, and 61. Sharma's fearless approach and consistent scoring have drawn comparisons to the legendary Viv Richards.
Several records are within Sharma's reach in this final. He is just 11 runs short of surpassing Virat Kohli's record of 319 runs for the most runs by an Indian in a multi-nation T20I tournament, a feat Kohli achieved during the 2014 T20 World Cup. Additionally, Sharma needs 41 runs to become the first batter from a full-member nation to score 350 runs in a T20I series or tournament, beating Phil Salt's record of 331 runs. He also needs 64 runs to break Suresh Raina’s record of 372 runs for most runs by an Indian in a single Asia Cup tournament.
Adding another potential milestone, Sharma has scored 30+ runs in his last seven T20I innings. If he repeats this in the final, he will become the first player globally to achieve eight consecutive scores of 30 or more in T20Is, surpassing the current record held jointly by Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan.
However, there is some concern surrounding Sharma's fitness, as he experienced cramps in the previous match. Despite this, the Indian team is heavily relying on him to perform in the final.
India has dominated the recent encounters against Pakistan, winning seven consecutive matches since 2022, including four T20Is. In the Asia Cup 2025, India has already defeated Pakistan twice. Historically, in tournament finals with five or more teams, Pakistan holds a slight edge with three wins to India's two. This final marks the first time India and Pakistan will compete in an Asia Cup final, adding another chapter to their storied rivalry.
