India emerged victorious in the Asia Cup 2025 final, defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets in a thrilling encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Tilak Varma's brilliant half-century anchored the Indian innings, securing their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title. However, the post-match celebrations were overshadowed by controversy as the Indian team reportedly refused to accept the winner's trophy in the traditional presentation ceremony.
Chasing a modest target of 147, India's innings began shakily, slumping to 20/3 early on. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav's poor form continued as he was dismissed for just 1 run. However, Tilak Varma, with an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, and Shivam Dube, who added a quick 33, steadied the ship, forging a crucial 60-run partnership. Rinku Singh eventually hit the winning boundary, sealing the victory with two balls to spare. Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 30 runs, while Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah each took two wickets to restrict Pakistan to 146. Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46) were the main contributors for Pakistan with the bat.
Despite the win, reports emerged that the Indian team refused to participate in the trophy presentation. According to the Press Trust of India, the team declined to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan minister and head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Simon Doull, the presenter for the ceremony, informed the stadium that India would not be collecting the trophy, leading to the cancellation of the winners' part of the ceremony.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) celebrated the victory with a social media post, but the absence of the trophy during the team's podium celebration was notable. India's victory in the Asia Cup 2025 marks their ninth title in the tournament's history. They have won four of the last five Asia Cup competitions. The team will receive US$30,000 as winners. Pakistan, as the runner-up, will receive US$20,000.
Suryakumar Yadav's struggles in the tournament continued, with the captain failing to make a significant impact in the final. He managed only 71 runs in six matches, averaging 23.66. His average in the Asia Cup 2025 is now the lowest for an Indian captain in a multi-nation T20I tournament. There was also controversy surrounding his dismissal in the final, with some questioning the validity of the catch taken by Salman Ali Agha. Suryakumar also drew attention before the match by refusing to participate in the pre-match photoshoot with his Pakistani counterpart.
