🗂️ Table of Contents
- Match Summary
- First Innings: Pakistan Collapse After Strong Start
- Second Innings: Tilak Anchors, Dube Finishes
- Key Match Stats
- Player of the Match & Top Performers
- Post-Match Reactions
- India’s Unbeaten Campaign
- What’s Next?
1️⃣ Match Summary
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Result: India won by 5 wickets
- Pakistan: 146 all out (20 overs)
- India: 150/5 (19.4 overs)
India held their nerve in a tense finish to chase down 147, thanks to a match-winning innings from Tilak Varma (69 off 53) and a composed cameo from Shivam Dube (33 off 22).
2️⃣ First Innings: Pakistan Collapse After Strong Start
Pakistan got off to a dream start with 45/0 in the Powerplay, led by Sahibzada Farhan, who scored a quickfire 57 (38). However, the Indian bowlers turned the game in the middle overs.
Collapse Breakdown:
- From 100/1 to 146 all out
- Only 13 runs scored in the final 5 overs
- Lost 5 wickets in the last phase
Indian Bowling Highlights:
- Kuldeep Yadav: 4/30
- Axar Patel: 2/26
- Varun Chakravarthy: Controlled the run flow in key overs
3️⃣ Second Innings: Tilak Anchors, Dube Finishes
India’s top-order faltered early, falling to 36/3 inside the first six overs. But Tilak Varma showcased maturity beyond his years.
Key Partnerships:
- Tilak + Samson: Steady the ship
- Tilak + Dube: Took India to the finish line
- Rinku Singh hit the winning boundary on the first ball he faced
Turning Point:
- 15th over: Haris Rauf returns, concedes 17 runs
- Shifted momentum firmly in India’s favor
4️⃣ Key Match Stats
| Phase/Stat | India | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay (1–6) | 36/3 | 45/0 |
| Middle Overs (7–15) | 75/1 | 88/5 |
| Final Overs (16–20) | 39/1 | 13/5 |
| Dot Ball % | 35% | 39% |
| Runs in Boundaries | 82 | 70 |
| Extras | 2 | 7 |
5️⃣ Player of the Match & Top Performers
⭐ Player of the Match: Tilak Varma
- 69 (53), 4 sixes, 3 fours
- 87% control rate
- Anchored the innings under pressure
🎯 Best Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav
- 4/30 in 4 overs
- Crucial strikes in the middle overs
Other Notables:
- Sahibzada Farhan (PAK): 57 (38)
- Faheem Ashraf (PAK): 3/29
- Shivam Dube (IND): 33 (22)
6️⃣ Post-Match Reactions
Tilak Varma:
“The key was to stay calm. We lost wickets early, but the plan was to bat deep. I’m glad it paid off.”
Kuldeep Yadav:
“We backed our lengths in the middle overs. That was the turning point.”
Morne Morkel (India Bowling Coach):
“The boys showed composure. Dube and Tilak were outstanding under pressure.”
7️⃣ India’s Unbeaten Campaign
India went undefeated throughout the tournament, showcasing a balanced squad and strong bench depth. Each match saw different players stepping up — a key indicator of a well-rounded unit.
With this win, India claims their 7th Asia Cup title and will head into the T20 World Cup full of confidence.
8️⃣ What’s Next?
With the Asia Cup behind them, both India and Pakistan now shift focus to the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. For India, the squad’s ability to absorb pressure and deliver in crunch moments makes them firm title contenders.
Pakistan, despite a promising campaign, will need to address middle-order inconsistency and death-over strategies ahead of the global tournament.