Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 anchors India’s chase of 147 in a tense and drama-filled final in Dubai.
Dubai: India lifted their ninth Asia Cup crown in Dubai on Sunday, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a gripping finale that had its share of cricketing brilliance and off-field controversy.
The hero of the night was 22-year-old Tilak Varma, who produced a composed knock of 69 not out off 53 deliveries. Walking in with India reeling at 10 for 2, Varma stood tall against Pakistan’s fiery pace attack, steering the chase with maturity beyond his years. His innings, decorated with four sixes and three boundaries, ensured India crossed the target of 147 with a ball to spare.
India’s run chase got off to a shaky start. Tournament top-scorer Abhishek Sharma departed for five in the second over, followed soon after by captain Suryakumar Yadav, who fell cheaply to Shaheen Afridi. Shubman Gill’s stay was brief as well, but Sanju Samson’s 24 off 21 balls and Shivam Dube’s steady support helped stabilise the innings alongside Varma. With nine runs needed in the final over, Dube’s dismissal added a twist, but Rinku Singh calmly struck the winning runs first ball to trigger jubilant celebrations.
Earlier, Pakistan began brightly with an opening stand of 84 runs between Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35). But their middle order collapsed dramatically, slipping from 113 for 2 to 146 all out in just 19.1 overs. India’s bowlers were relentless, with Kuldeep Yadav taking four wickets for 30 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
The final, however, was marred by drama after the match. The post-match presentation was delayed, and the Indian team declined to accept the trophy directly from Asian Cricket Council Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board. Instead, Indian players celebrated in their own style, lifting a mock trophy amid loud cheers from the dressing room, underlining their dominance in the continental tournament.
Kuldeep Yadav finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps, while Abhishek Sharma ended as the top run-getter with 314 runs. With this victory, India once again stamped their authority in Asian cricket, blending young talent with experienced heads to emerge deserving champions.
