The 2025 Asia Cup final in Dubai delivered not just high-octane cricket but also a dramatic off-field twist, as India edged out Pakistan by five wickets in a tense finish, only to refuse the trophy and medals in protest at the post-match ceremony. The action on the field was intense, but what happened after the final ball may well be remembered just as vividly as the cricket itself.
Played on September 28, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, this was the first time India and Pakistan had met in an Asia Cup final since the tournament's inception in 1984. The stakes? Immense. The pressure? Unrelenting. And, as it turned out, the drama extended long after the last run was scored.
Pakistan, put in to bat first, looked poised for a formidable total after openers Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) launched them to 113-1. But as so often happens in cricket, momentum is a fickle friend. Kuldeep Yadav, India's left-arm wrist spinner, spun a web around Pakistan's middle and lower order, snaring 4 wickets for just 30 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel chipped in with two wickets each, as Pakistan collapsed spectacularly, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs to finish 146 all out in 19.1 overs.
"It's very important to bowl in the middle overs. After 10-11 overs, they were like 100 for 1. We knew if we got a couple of wickets, it would not be easy for new batters to come and score," said Kuldeep Yadav after the game. His spell was the turning point, as Pakistan's promising start fizzled under relentless Indian pressure.
India's chase, however, began in nightmarish fashion. The formidable opening trio of Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill were all back in the pavilion with just 20 runs on the board after four overs. Pakistani seamers Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi had the Indian camp reeling and the crowd on edge. Sharma, who had been the tournament's standout batter with 314 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 200, was dismissed for just 5. Yadav, India's captain, continued his run of poor form, managing only a single run before falling to Afridi.
But if cricket has taught us anything, it's that comebacks are always possible. Enter Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, who steadied the ship with a patient partnership. Samson, facing 21 balls for 24 runs, played the supporting role, while Varma anchored the innings with poise. After Samson's departure in the 13th over, India still needed a rescue act. Shivam Dube joined Varma, and together they stitched a game-changing partnership, adding 60 runs off 40 balls. Dube’s 33 off 22 balls, peppered with two sixes and two fours, helped swing the momentum back to India.
Varma reached his half-century off 41 balls and never let the pressure get to him, even as wickets tumbled at the other end. With 10 runs needed from the final over, bowled by Haris Rauf, Varma smacked a crucial six, bringing India within touching distance. Rinku Singh, who had not faced a single ball in the tournament until then, hit the winning four on his very first delivery, sealing victory with two balls to spare. India finished at 150 for 5 in 19.4 overs.
"It was a pressure situation but I just wanted to bat till the end. They were mixing up the pace and bowling well. Sanju was fantastic and Shivam was helpful under pressure. I was backing my game and wanted to finish for my country," Varma reflected after being named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 69 off 53 balls.
The post-match scenes, however, quickly overshadowed the on-field heroics. In a highly unusual move, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy and winners' medals from Mohsin Naqvi, who is not only the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Asian Cricket Council but also Pakistan's Interior Minister. The ceremony dragged on for over an hour, with both sides waiting as officials scrambled to resolve the standoff. Eventually, the presentation was called off, and the trophy was taken away without being awarded.
"This is a never-ending thing. India are not shaking hands. I think if the Asia Cup is to be run this way, what message is going out to the world?" lamented former Pakistan cricketer Bazid Khan, expressing concern over the growing animosity. The lack of handshakes between the teams throughout the tournament, including at the toss and after the final, only added to the sense of discord.
The reasons behind India's refusal were rooted in recent political tensions and perceived provocations. According to reports, Naqvi had posted controversial images on social media during the tournament, including one depicting Pakistan cricketers in flight suits with fighter jets in the background. This, coupled with his insistence on presenting the trophy instead of allowing Emirates Cricket Board Vice Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni to do so, proved too much for the Indian camp.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the situation, stating, "Nobody told us to do it. The team decided on its own." He added, "We can't say we weren't disappointed but as you see, there were lots of smiles. The win is important. It was written on the big screen—'India - Asia Cup 2025 champions.' Everywhere you see champions board, that's all we need. That is what we play for. Great campaign, great journey, we had fun."
Adding a touch of charity to the controversy, Yadav also pledged to donate his match fees from the tournament to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces. "As a gesture from my end. I personally want to give my match fees of all the games which I have played in this tournament to the Indian army," he posted on social media, drawing widespread praise.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha, meanwhile, tried to keep the focus on cricket, admitting, "We didn't bat well in this tournament and we know where we need to improve. We have to sort out our batting very soon. They bowled outstandingly well, they (India) needed 63 from 6 overs and I thought we had the game. But the batting was what cost us the game."
The 2025 Asia Cup final will be remembered for its thrilling finish, standout performances—especially by Varma, Dube, and Kuldeep Yadav—and the extraordinary scenes that followed. India, now nine-time Asia Cup champions, celebrated on the ground without their medals or trophy, a testament to the high passions and deeper issues that sometimes spill over in the world of sport. As the dust settles, fans and officials alike will hope that the spirit of cricket can eventually prevail over politics and controversy.
