DUBAI:
Pakistan’s hopes of clinching their maiden Asia Cup T20 crown ended in heartbreak on Sunday as India staged a remarkable recovery to claim a five-wicket win in Dubai. What began as a dream start for Pakistan quickly unraveled, leaving arch-rivals India celebrating a record ninth title in a contest that carried both sporting intensity and political undertones.
Playing each other in an Asia Cup final for the first time, the two sides delivered a game full of drama. Pakistan, asked to bat first, got off to a flying start thanks to Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. The pair stitched together 84 runs for the opening wicket, with Farhan smashing a quickfire 57 off 38 balls and Zaman adding 46 from 35. For a brief moment, Pakistan seemed in complete control.
The momentum shifted dramatically after Farhan’s dismissal to Varun Chakravarthy in the 10th over. From there, India’s spinners took charge. Kuldeep Yadav, in particular, produced a devastating spell, ripping through the middle order and picking up four wickets for 30 runs, including three in a single over. Pakistan’s innings collapsed spectacularly, tumbling from 113-1 to 146 all out in just 19.1 overs.
India’s chase, however, was far from straightforward. Pakistan’s new-ball attack struck early blows, reducing the defending champions to 20-3 inside four overs. Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed each delivered breakthroughs, raising hopes of an upset.
But Tilak Varma proved the difference. The 22-year-old left-hander anchored the innings with an unbeaten 69, showing composure beyond his years. Supported by Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33 off 22), Varma kept India on course. Even after Dube’s dismissal, he held his nerve. With 10 needed from the last over, Varma cleared the ropes off Haris Rauf before Rinku Singh sealed victory with a boundary, taking India to 147-5 with two balls remaining.
The tension extended beyond the field. Reports suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had instructed its players not to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board. The post-match ceremony was marked by delays and awkward silence, reflecting the frosty political climate.
Throughout the tournament, the rivalry spilled into gestures and celebrations. From Jasprit Bumrah’s mocking send-off of Haris Rauf to Pakistan’s provocative goal-style salutes, the edge never softened. Players refrained from handshakes, underscoring how off-field tensions bled into on-field behavior.
For India, the triumph underlined their dominance ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with Sri Lanka. For Pakistan, it was a harsh reminder of how quickly control can slip away against their fiercest rivals, turning a promising beginning into a bitter end.
