During the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday, India`s head coach Gautam Gambhir displayed an uncharacteristic burst of emotion. As Tilak Varma`s crucial six neared India to victory, Gambhir, usually composed, was captured on camera passionately banging the desk – a rare sight that quickly went viral. India was chasing a target of 147, with 10 runs required off the final delivery, featuring Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh at the crease.
Tilak Varma, then at 60 runs, secured a double off the first ball from Haris Rauf. On the very next ball, he powerfully hit Rauf for a massive six over midwicket, reducing the target to just two runs from four deliveries and visibly calming the Indian dugout.
Rinku Singh, making his tournament debut, then struck the winning boundary through mid-on, clinching victory for India with five wickets in hand and two balls remaining. Tilak Varma`s unbeaten 69 off 53 balls was arguably his finest international innings to date.
Earlier in the match, after being sent in to bat, Pakistan experienced a dramatic collapse, going from a strong 113 for 1 to being all out for 146 in just 19.1 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This total initially appeared formidable, especially after defending champions India stumbled to a poor start, losing three wickets for only 20 runs within four overs, including the key dismissal of Abhishek Sharma for 5.
However, a strong recovery was spearheaded by Varma and Shivam Dube (33 runs), guiding India to a winning total of 150 for 5 in 19.4 overs. While Varma contributed a 57-run partnership off 50 balls with Sanju Samson (24), the most decisive collaboration was between Varma and Dube, who scored 33 off 22 balls.
This triumph marked India`s second T20 Asia Cup title since 2016, and their ninth overall Asia Cup victory across all formats since the tournament`s inception in 1984.
Remarkably, this was the inaugural India-Pakistan final in the history of the Asia Cup. The two rivals had previously clashed twice in the tournament`s group stage and Super Four rounds, with India securing comfortable victories in both encounters. Following both prior matches, Indian cricketers had declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, a sentiment that continued with no handshakes exchanged at Sunday`s toss.
