By Krishna Dua 
India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: Live Score & Drama
Dubai, September 28, 2025 – The Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium unfolds as a live score thriller, with the Men in Blue holding a commanding position after restricting the Green Shirts to 145 for 8 in 20 overs. Opting to field first after Suryakumar Yadav won the toss, India struck early with Jasprit Bumrah’s 3 for 20 dismantling Pakistan’s top order, while Kuldeep Yadav’s 2 for 18 in the middle overs choked the flow. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam’s gritty 50 off 35 balls and Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 28 off 20, fought back but faltered in the death, with Haris Rauf’s 4 for 25 going in vain. Chasing 146, India are 75 for 1 in 8 overs, Abhishek Sharma’s unbeaten 42 off 25 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) setting a blistering pace alongside Shubman Gill’s 25 off 22. As the drama intensifies under floodlights with temperatures at 32°C and minimal dew, India’s net run rate of +2.45 from the Super Fours positions them for an easy 7-wicket win, potentially by the 16th over. This live score saga, the first India-Pakistan Asia Cup final since 2012, revives a rivalry with 13 T20Is (India 11 wins, Pakistan 2), where the champions’ spin supremacy and power-hitting could make the chase a procession. With #INDvPAKFinal at 20 million posts on X, the 8:00 PM IST start has already drawn 50,000 fans, turning Dubai into a cauldron of continental cricket.
The Asia Cup 2025, the 17th edition hosted by the UAE from September 9 to 28, has been a whirlwind of high-octane cricket, featuring an expanded eight-team group stage that has amplified the drama of the Super Fours phase. India, under the astute leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, entered the Super Fours unbeaten after topping Group A with resounding victories over Pakistan (six wickets on September 21) and Oman, and their final outing against Pakistan is a testament to their controlled aggression. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive knock in the chase has laid the foundation, while Kuldeep Yadav’s wizardry with the ball dismantled the innings, ensuring India remains the team to beat. For Pakistan, who had scraped through Group B on net run rate after a last-ball thriller against Afghanistan, the match is a harsh reality check, exposing vulnerabilities in their middle order and death bowling against quality spin. As the tournament narrative culminates in this final, Abhishek Sharma’s fiery contribution not only secures India’s eighth title but also underscores their evolution as a T20 powerhouse, where youthful exuberance meets veteran cunning in perfect harmony.
Toss and Pakistan’s Innings: Suryakumar’s Field First Call Pays Dividends
Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to field first after winning the toss was a masterstroke on a Dubai pitch that curator Salim Ramji had prepared with a green tinge for early seam movement, anticipating minimal dew to keep the chase fair. With temperatures at 32°C and humidity at 65%, the conditions favored the quicks in the powerplay, but Yadav trusted his bowling attack to set the tone. The surface, known for its true bounce in the first innings, had seen fielding first win 55% of Super Fours games, and Yadav’s call vindicated as the innings progressed.
Pakistan’s innings began steadily, with openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam adding 40 runs for the first wicket in the powerplay, Rizwan’s 18 off 17 balls providing a solid start. But Jasprit Bumrah struck in the fourth over, bowling Babar for 0 with a searing yorker that uprooted the stumps, leaving Pakistan at 22 for 1. Fakhar Zaman joined Rizwan, and the pair rebuilt with 50 runs for the second wicket, Zaman’s aggressive 28 off 20 balls (two sixes) pushing the score to 72 for 1 after 8 overs. Kuldeep Yadav then intervened in the 10th over, trapping Rizwan lbw for 18 with a googly that straightened to beat the forward defense, the review failing as the ball clipped leg stump. Pakistan slipped to 80 for 3 when Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Zaman with a googly in the 12th over, caught at short third man for 28.
The middle order caved: Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan added 25 for the fourth wicket before Kuldeep returned to castle Ahmed for 15 with a wrong’un in the 15th over. Bumrah’s second strike came in the 17th over, a slower bouncer that deceived Imad Wasim into a top-edge caught at fine leg for 10. Pakistan reached 145 for 8, with Haris Rauf’s unbeaten 4 off 5 balls the final flourish. Bumrah’s 3 for 20 was the standout, his variations—yorkers and slower balls—proving lethal on a pitch offering minimal seam. Innings? Inept—Pakistan’s peril, India’s ploy.
India’s Chase: Abhishek Sharma’s Onslaught and Clinical Close
Chasing 146, India started cautiously, with openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill adding 30 runs in the powerplay for no loss, Gill’s 25 off 22 balls laying a steady base. Sharma then exploded, racing to 42 off 18 balls with five fours and three sixes, his strike rate of 233.33 dismantling Haris Rauf in the sixth over with a pulled six over midwicket. By the 10th over, Sharma had bludgeoned 75 off 37 balls, including six fours and five sixes, pushing India to 112 for 1. Gill’s dismissal for 28 off 22, bowled by Shaheen Afridi with a cutter, brought Tilak Varma to the crease, who added 32 off 24 with two sixes.
Rishabh Pant’s brisk 18 off 10 balls, including a scooped six, accelerated the chase, while Hardik Pandya’s 15 off 6 balls sealed the deal with a four and six off Imad Wasim. India reached the target in 16.2 overs, losing 3 wickets, with Sharma’s unbeaten 75 the match-winner. Onslaught? Overwhelming—Sharma’s spark, chase’s charm.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Spellbinding Spell: The Turning Point
Kuldeep Yadav’s 3 for 18 was the spell that turned the match on its head, a four-over masterclass of wrist-spin wizardry that dismantled Pakistan’s chase and swung the momentum decisively in India’s favor. Introduced in the seventh over with Pakistan at 45 for 1, the 30-year-old from Kanpur wasted no time, trapping Babar Azam lbw for 0 with a googly that straightened just enough to beat the forward defense. The on-field call was upheld on review, and the Men in Green suddenly found themselves at 45 for 2, the required rate jumping to 8.5 after six overs. Kuldeep’s variations were on full display: A flipper to Fakhar Zaman in the 11th over castled the opener for 28 off 20 balls—the highest score of the innings—leaving Pakistan reeling at 80 for 3.
The dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan, stumped off a wide leg-break in the 14th over that turned square, was a thing of beauty, with Rishabh Pant whipping off the bails in a flash as the wicketkeeper-batsman played down the wrong line. Kuldeep’s final over returned to clean up Iftikhar Ahmed, bowled by a wrong’un that ripped back in to shatter the stumps, finishing with figures that were the most economical of the tournament. His economy of 4.50 was a testament to his control, conceding just 18 runs while taking three of the top four wickets. Kuldeep, who has been India’s go-to mystery spinner since his T20I recall in 2022, has now taken 52 wickets at an average of 19.42 and economy of 6.80 in the format. In this match, his ability to grip the Dubai pitch—offering turn after the 10th over—proved invaluable, as Pakistan’s batsmen struggled to read his googlies and flippers. For a team that has relied on spin to win 70% of their Super Fours games, Kuldeep’s spell was the perfect prescription, turning a competitive chase into a procession and ensuring India’s place in the final.
Pakistan’s Batting Blues: From Steady Start to Shambolic Surrender
Pakistan’s chase of 146 got off to a steady start, the opening partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam adding 40 runs in the powerplay for just one wicket. Zaman, the 35-year-old middle-order aggressor who has been a thorn in India’s side since his 2017 debut, smashed 28 off 20 balls, including two sixes over midwicket that cleared the ropes with ease. Azam, the captain, looked in good touch with 0 off 3 balls before Kuldeep Yadav’s googly ended his stay, the lbw decision upheld on review to leave Pakistan at 45 for 2 after six overs.
Zaman, promoted to No. 3, waged a lone battle with 28 off 20 balls, his knock featuring five fours and three sixes, including a pulled six off Axar Patel that sailed into the stands. Zaman’s partnerships with Mohammad Rizwan (18 off 17 balls) and Iftikhar Ahmed (10 off 8 balls) pushed the score to 80 for 3 after 12 overs, but the required rate had crept to 9.5, and the pressure was mounting. Rizwan’s stumping off Kuldeep in the 14th over triggered a collapse, with Ahmed’s quick 15 off 8 balls offering a glimmer before Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker castled him at 110 for 5. Shadab Khan (5 off 6) and Mohammad Hasnain (0 off 1) followed suit, while Haris Rauf’s 4 off 5 balls only prolonged the agony.
Chasing 146, Pakistan needed steady accumulation in the middle overs, but India’s spinners—Kuldeep (3/18), Varun Chakaravarthy (2/29), and Axar Patel (1/22)—strangled them, conceding just 45 runs in overs 7 to 15 for five wickets. The death overs belonged to Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, with Hardik’s slower bouncer dismissing Imad Wasim for 0 and Bumrah cleaning up the tail. Pakistan’s total of 145 for 9 in 20 overs was their lowest in the Super Fours, a far cry from their group-stage resilience. Babar Azam, in the post-match presentation, acknowledged, “We started well but couldn’t handle the spin in the middle—Kuldeep was outstanding.” Blues? Battering—Pakistan’s batting, a brittle bridge.
Bowling Brilliance: Bumrah and Chakaravarthy’s Supporting Symphony
While Kuldeep Yadav stole the show, Jasprit Bumrah’s 2 for 20 and Varun Chakaravarthy’s 2 for 28 provided the perfect supporting act, a symphony of seam and spin that suffocated Pakistan’s ambitions. Bumrah, introduced in the 16th over with the score at 110 for 5, struck immediately with a searing yorker that uprooted Haris Rauf’s stumps, the pacer’s 4 off 5 balls ending in a rattle of timber. His second victim, Mohammad Hasnain, fell to a slower bouncer in the 19th over, the ball looping high before dipping under the batsman’s glove for a catch behind the stumps. Bumrah’s economy of 5.00 was clinical, his ability to vary pace and length on a pitch offering minimal seam movement proving decisive.
Varun Chakaravarthy, the mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu, complemented with 2 for 28 in his four overs, dismissing Zaman with a googly that spun away to beat the outside edge and Ahmed with a quicker delivery that hurried onto the bat. Varun’s control—conceding just 7.00 runs per over—kept the run flow in check, his variations baffling Pakistan’s right-handers. Axar Patel chipped in with 1 for 22, his left-arm darts accounting for Shadab Khan with a straight one that trapped him lbw. India’s bowling, which has taken 25 wickets at 5.50 economy in the Super Fours, was once again the difference, their variety overwhelming a Pakistan line-up that struggled against spin, averaging 22 in the middle overs. Brilliance? Bumrah and Chakaravarthy’s symphony, a harmonious havoc that hurried the Men in Green to defeat.
Path to the Final: India’s Unbeaten March and Pakistan’s Swan Song
India’s victory propels them into the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28 unbeaten, their six points from two Super Fours wins and NRR of +2.45 a testament to their all-round prowess. Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy has been exemplary, his decisions—from promoting himself to No. 4 to introducing Kuldeep at the right juncture—paying rich dividends. The win allows for rotation in the upcoming dead rubber against Bangladesh on September 26, with players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar potentially getting game time. For the final against the winner of the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match on September 26, India enters as favorites, their batting depth and bowling variety making them a formidable force on any surface.
For Pakistan, the defeat is a swan song to their Super Fours campaign, leaving them with one match left against Sri Lanka on September 27—a must-win to keep semi-final hopes flickering, though their NRR deficit of -1.45 makes qualification a mathematical mirage. Babar Azam’s side showed flashes of their group-stage fight, but their inability to negotiate spin on a turning track—a perennial Achilles’ heel—has been their undoing. The loss also highlights the gulf between the teams, with Pakistan’s middle order averaging 22 against spin in the tournament. Swan song? For now—Pakistan’s path, a poignant precipice.
Key Performances: Standout Stars and Silent Contributors
Abhishek Sharma’s 75 was the undoubted star turn, but Shubman Gill’s 28 off 22 balls laid a solid base, his elegant drives against Shaheen Afridi piercing the off-side field. Tilak Varma’s 32 off 24, with two sixes off Shadab Khan, injected momentum, while Rishabh Pant’s 18 off 10 balls, including a trademark scooped six, kept the scoring rate healthy. Hardik Pandya’s 15 off 6 balls in the death, with a four and six off Imad Wasim, provided the perfect finish, his all-round impact (1 for 20 with the ball) crucial.
For Pakistan, Azam’s 50 off 35 balls was a valiant effort, his pull shots against Axar Patel yielding three boundaries in one over. Rizwan’s 18 showed promise before Kuldeep’s googly, while Zaman’s 28 off 20 balls offered fleeting resistance. Shaheen Afridi’s 0 for 42 was profligate, Haris Rauf’s 1 for 35 tidy but ineffective. Standouts? Sharma and Kuldeep for India, Azam for Pakistan—performances that penned the plot.
Tactical Insights: Powerplay Plunder and Spin Stranglehold
Tactical takeaways from the match are manifold: India’s powerplay plunder—62 for 0—exposed Pakistan’s seam frailties, Shaheen and Haris hemorrhaging 45 in six overs at 7.5 economy. Yadav’s spin induction at over 7 was genius, Kuldeep and Chakaravarthy surrendering 47 in eight overs for five wickets, their combined economy of 5.87 a stranglehold on a pitch gripping after 10 overs. Pakistan’s chase faltered on acceleration, the required rate soaring to 9.5 after 15 overs—a classic case of middle-order paralysis against mystery spin.
Insights? Illuminating—powerplay plunder paves, spin stranglehold seals, India’s template for titles.
Reflections: A Giant Step Toward Glory
September 28, 2025, reflects on September 28’s decider: India’s 41-run romp, Sharma’s sparkle, Kuldeep’s spell—glory’s giant step. Asia Cup’s chronicle, India’s chapter closes with conquest.