Asia Cup 2025 Final: India vs Pakistan — Live Score Update
In a historic chapter of the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan met in the final for the first time ever, with the arch-rivals locking horns in a high-stakes Dubai showdown. India, batting or bowling second, was led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, while Pakistan was skippered by Salman Agha. An unusual pre-match storyline added to the drama: two former captains-turned-commentators, Ravi Shastri and Waqar Younis, were part of the toss discussion, marking a rare moment in cricket broadcasting.
Toss, team news and early momentum
India won the toss and elected to bowl first, with captain Suryakumar Yadav explaining that the pitch looked tough and that fielding first would be advantageous. The decision also carried the weight of a fragile yet resilient Indian lineup that had seen Pandiya ruled out due to injury. Pakistan’s opening pair, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, looked to harness the powerplay, with Farhan striking a 50 off 35 balls and forming a crucial 84-run stand for the first wicket. The early flourish, however, was checked by India’s spinners as the chase began to tilt in their favor later in the innings.
Pakistan innings: a brave start, then a masterclass from the spinners
Pakistan finished their 20 overs at 146 all out, a total that hinged on the initial 84-run partnership. After the openers’ stand, the fall of wickets accelerated, and the innings collapsed in spectacular fashion. From 113/2 at one stage, a 33-run slide with nine wickets in quick time left Pakistan reeling. The turning point came as India’s trio of spin specialists—Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy—specialized in tightening the screws. Kuldeep, finishing with four wickets for 30 runs in four overs, attached the noose; Axar and Chakravarthy chipped in with two wickets apiece, leaving the lower middle order with little to work on. Jasprit Bumrah added the clinching moment with a yorker that dismissed Haris Rauf, followed by a lighthearted “plane crash” celebration from the captain after the fall of the ninth wicket, a moment that quickly became a talking point among fans and pundits alike.
Key moments and records from the Pakistan innings
Farhan’s fifty was a bright spark in an innings otherwise dominated by India’s spin attack. He stood tall for the bulk of the innings, but once he fell, Pakistan’s attempt to accelerate broke down. The collapse was relentless, with the ball turning and slipping from the batsmen’s grasp as Kuldeep found his rhythm, often beating the bat and trapping the edges. It was a performance that underscored India’s depth in spin and the growing strength of their bowling unit on such surfaces.
India’s chase: Surya’s leadership and early setback
Chasing, India faced a hiccup early as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed in the second over by Fahim Ashraf, leaving India 10/1 after two overs. Shubman Gill and the stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav were at the crease, with the former providing promising strokes before the scoreboard began to tick under pressure. The early wicket gave Pakistan a sniff and tightened the field, but India’s batting unit remained composed, focusing on building a steady partnership and preserving wickets for the middle overs. This was a live blog of a match that promised fireworks, and the next phase would determine whether India could steer the chase toward a memorable triumph or whether Pakistan would bounce back through the middle overs.
Playing XI highlights and historic broadcast moment
Pakistan: Sahibzade Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (captain), Usman Talat, Muhammad Haris, Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, and others. India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah. The toss featured two presenters on screen—rare in the annals of cricket broadcasting—an innovation that kept viewers glued to the drama before the ball even started rolling.
What this means going forward
With Pakistan all out for 146, India’s chase becomes a study in resilience and depth. The early loss of a wicket is a reminder that a final is never easy, but the presence of a resilient top and middle order, combined with a potent bowling unit, provides India with a clear path to victory. The next phase will hinge on Surya’s leadership and the ability of Gill and the middle-order to convert starts into a winning partnership. Asia Cup 2025 has delivered on the promise of a fiercely competitive finale, and the outcome will add another memorable chapter to the India-Pakistan rivalry.
Final takeaway
As the chase continues, all eyes will be on how India navigates the combination of pace and spin, and whether Surya can steady the ship and push India toward a historic title. The Asia Cup 2025 final remains a showcase of skill, strategy, and the timeless tug-of-war between the two cricketing giants.
