The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash reward of Rs 21 crore for the Indian team and support staff after the Suryakumar Yadav-led side outclassed Pakistan by five wickets in a nail-biting Asia Cup 2025 final to claim their ninth continental trophy on Sunday. “3 blows. 0 response. Asia Cup Champions. Message delivered. 21 crores prize money for the team and support staff. #AsiaCup2025 #INDvPAK #TeamIndia,” the BCCI tweeted following the triumph.
After bowling out Pakistan for a modest 146, India chased down the target of 147 with just two balls to spare, holding their nerve to secure their ninth Asia Cup title across formats. It was yet another classic India-Pakistan encounter, with the Men in Blue completing a clean sweep in the tournament by defeating their arch-rivals in all three clashes.
The victory sparked jubilant scenes in the Indian camp, with Rinku Singh racing towards the dugout and Tilak Varma (69* off 53) roaring in celebration after his match-winning innings. Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha were left to rue yet another heartbreak in Dubai.
India won the toss and elected to bowl first. Pakistan got off to a promising start, with openers Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) posting an 84-run stand inside the first half of their innings. Varun Chakravarthy broke the partnership at drinks, triggering a collapse. Despite brief resistance from Fakhar and Saim Ayub, the Indian spinners ran through the middle and lower order.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer, finishing with 4/30, while Axar Patel (2/26), Chakravarthy (2/30) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) shared the remaining wickets as Pakistan were bowled out in 19.1 overs.
| Asia Cup final, Ind vs Pak highlights |
Chasing 147, India stumbled early, losing three wickets for just 20 runs in four overs as Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi struck with the new ball. Abhishek Sharma, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, fell cheaply, leaving India under pressure.
Tilak Varma, however, remained composed under fire. He found boundaries at crucial moments, stabilising the innings alongside Sanju Samson (24 off 21) in a 57-run fourth-wicket stand. When Samson fell to Abrar Ahmed, Shivam Dube joined Varma, and the two left-handers added 60 runs for the fifth wicket, keeping India in contention. Dube’s 33 off 22 balls, laced with two fours and sixes each, provided the perfect support.
With India at 83/4 after 14 overs, the duo attacked Shaheen Rauf in the 15th over, scoring 17 runs and swinging momentum decisively in India’s favour. The final overs were tense: with 10 needed off six balls, Tilak Varma struck a six before Rinku Singh, facing his first ball of the tournament, hit the winning runs to spark wild celebrations.
– Ends
Tune In