By Prachi Mishra
Tilak Varma played the innings of his young career, guiding India to a tense five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday. Tilak’s finest-ever knock of 69* was not only instrumental in steadying an unraveling chase but also in giving India the ninth Asia Cup title. However, celebratory moments soon turned somber owing to the post-match controversy.
Set 147 to win, India were rattled early. Abhishek Sharma, the tournament’s top scorer, fell for five in the second over, followed quickly by captain Suryakumar Yadav, leaving the scoreboard at 10 for 2. Pakistan’s pacers sensed blood, but Varma dug in, refusing to panic. Varma stitched abreast of brief partnerships with Gill (11) and Sanju Samson (24) before settling in with Shivam Dube (17).
Wickets kept tumbling, yet he rotated strike, biding his time to hit four sixes and three fours in 53 balls.Shivam Dube’s departure left just nine runs to go, which Rinku Singh sealed in style with his first delivery ever. On an earlier note, Pakistan looked poised to make a big total, courtesy an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46). But India’s bowlers struck fiercely. Pakistan folded to 146 all out in just 19.1 overs from 113 for 2. India’s mystery spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the chief tormentor, taking 4 for 30 and winding up as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in the tournament.
Steel after steel was inserted in the match’s cricketing drama. The draping ceremony was put on hold for more than an hour, and the Indian cricket team stood united in refusing to accept the trophy from the chairperson of the Asian Cricket Council, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Interior Minister of Pakistan at present.
Varma, Abhishek and Kuldeep collected their individual prizes but avoided Naqvi on stage.
Denied the official trophy moment, India improvised. As captured in photos, captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates celebrated with a mock trophy, drawing laughter and cheers from the crowd.
The result extended India’s remarkable Asia Cup record now unbeaten in nine tournament chases against Pakistan but the night will be remembered just as much for politics as for cricketing grit.