Asia Cup: Ice-cool Tilak wins it for India in a thrilling finale, ending weeks of off-field tension. Asia Cup: Ice-cool Tilak wins it for India as the Men in Blue clinched the title with a dramatic five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 28, 2025).
The match was tense from the start, with political undercurrents shadowing the contest. Chasing 147, India found itself struggling at 20 for three in four overs. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson rebuilt the innings with a fine 57-run partnership. Samson’s dismissal brought added pressure, but Tilak held his nerve.
With India requiring 64 from the last six overs, Tilak attacked Haris Rauf, hitting a memorable six over deep backward square leg. Shivam Dube supported well, taking India closer to victory. With eight needed from five balls, Tilak struck another towering six off Rauf to seal the win.
Spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel also starred, taking eight wickets between them. Kuldeep’s figures of 4-0-30-4 proved decisive. The win gave India its ninth Asia Cup title, though the trophy was not awarded after India refused to accept it from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi.
