India outplayed Pakistan in all three meetings of the Asia Cup 2025.
Team India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday (September 28) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, thereby clinching the continental crown for the record-extending ninth time.
Asked to bat first, Pakistan suffered a miserable collapse from 113/1 to 146 all out in 19.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, returning with the figures of 4/30 in four overs while Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each.
In reply, India overhauled the target with two deliveries to spare, thanks to Tilak Varma’s 69* off 53 balls and crucial contributions from Shivam Dube (33 off 22) and Sanju Samson (24 off 21).
India outplayed Pakistan in all three meetings of the Asia Cup 2025. While the title clash went into the last over, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side won the group-stage and Super 4 fixtures rather convincingly by seven wickets and six wickets respectively.
Speaking on the 'Beard Before Wicket' podcast, former England cricketer Ravi Bopara offered his perspective on the India–Pakistan rivalry, claiming that the Men in Blue no longer regard their neighbours as a major threat on the cricket field.
"I don't think India see Pakistan as a major threat. They might see England, they might see Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Pakistan will be at the bottom of that list. The rivalry will be up there, but in terms of them having a team chat, they're saying listen guys, let's not take it too lightly today, just make sure we bury them. I'm sure that's the sort of language that would be spoken in that dressing room," Bopara said.
“They're not going to outskill India. I don't think they think that they can outskill India. What they'll probably be saying in their dressing room is, one of us have day out today and we'll win whereas it is completely different in the Indian side,” he added.
Bopara mentioned how India’s dominance has left Pakistan desperately banking on someone like Fakhar Zaman to produce a rare match-winning performance.
“They're thinking Fakhar Zaman please have a day out, and it is a shame. There are a lot of people playing cricket in Pakistan and they just haven't been able to get over the line against India,” he remarked.