India beat Pakistan to lift Asia Cup

India clinched the Asia Cup 2025 title with a thrilling last-over win against Pakistan. India beat arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Put into bat, Pakistan could not capitalise on an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46) and were bundled out for 146 with five deliveries still left in their innings. Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for 33 runs in a spectacular meltdown with India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4-30) being the wrecker-in-chief.

India win the Asia Cup 2025 Final in an absolute thriller against Pakistan

https://t.co/ISyV26V2nB pic.twitter.com/Yhouly8BXz

— ICC (@ICC) September 28, 2025

Tilak Varma anchored India’s nervy chase with an unbeaten 69 and Shivam Dube (33) provided some support as they overwhelmed the target with two deliveries to spare.Needing 10 off the last over, Tilak deposited the controversial trouble monger Haris Rauf into mid-wicket stands before Rinku Singh, getting his first hit of the tournament, sent the Indian fans into delirium with a winning boundary. Having slumped to 20 for three inside first five overs, Tilak (69 not out off 53 balls) was composed and audacious in equal measure with Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33 off 21 balls ) proving to be brilliant support casts as India chased down 147 in 19.4 overs 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday likened the India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup to Operation Sindoor, and said the outcome remained the same and India won. He said on X, "Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same - India wins! Congrats to our cricketers." India had named its military operation "Operation Sindoor" following the Pahalgam terror attack, as it targeted terrorists based in Pakistan and then engaged in a conflict with the Pakistani military.