India beat Pakistan in thrilling final to lift ninth Asia Cup title

A dramatic collapse, even by the comical standards of Pakistan’s history in this department, ultimately proved their undoing in the final of the T20 Asia Cup. 

Salman Agha’s captaincy was shocking, and Haris Rauf once again expensive in a match against India, but in the end result, it was Pakistan’s woeful batting that helped India become victors of the Asia Cup for a ninth time. 

From staring at a total in the vicinity of 180-185, Pakistan instead were bowled out for 146 in 19.1 overs after losing nine wickets for 33 runs. This was made to look tougher than it seemed when India fell to 20/3 inside the Powerplay, before a clutch innings for the ages from Tilak Varma, aided by cameos from Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, saw India cross the finish line with five wickets and two deliveries remaining. 

Kuldeep Yadav’s evening began ominously when Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman swung him for sixes, but it was the man with the big-match temperament who pulled matters back India’s way. After 12.4 overs, Pakistan were 113/1 with Fakhar Zaman on 36 off 28 balls and Saim Ayub 14 from 11. To the next ball, Ayub sliced to backward point. 

Axar Patel varied his pace nicely to take two wickets in his last two overs, and Varun Chakravarthy took out a frustrated Fakhar for 46, which left Pakistan at 126/4. 

Kuldeep returned to bowl the 17th over and with it came three wickets, as Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf each departed trying to be heroes. It was shockingly poor batting from Pakistan, who seemed unable to pick Kuldeep’s deliveries and instead were intent on slogging across the line. The left-arm wrist-spinner went from figures of 1/29 after three overs to 4/30 after his fourth.

Not having enough runs on the board ultimately told for Pakistan, though for the first time since the washed out ODI during the 2023 Asia Cup, they had India in trouble. A woeful start to their chase saw the defending champions lose Abhishek Sharma to a false shot against Ashraf, and Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav to sharp catches at mid-off and mid-on respectively, from Agha and Rauf.

Those, however, would be the only good things the two fielders did. Agha lost his marbles when he bowled Mohammad Nawaz for just one over, which cost six runs, and then changed ends for Abrar Ahmed. In between, Pakistan’s captain went back to pace in the form of Rauf who conceded 17 runs in his third over. 

Varma’s nerveless 69 not out off 53 deliveries is an innings that should be recalled for years to come, given the match situation. There was hardly a false shot as he took his time, defended when needed, and perforated the gaps just when the asking rate was escalating into dangerous territory. His temperament was outstanding, be it deflecting singles or hitting over the infield to ease the pressure. 

With Samson contributing 24 from 21 balls and Dube injecting life into the chase with a terrific 33 off 22 in a stand worth 60, Varma’s job was made easier. Dube was especially eye-catching with his big hits, each of which crashed into Pakistan’s ego and cued drooping shoulders.

In a vital passage of play, Varma took toll on Rauf, taking a four and six off his wayward bowling in the 15th over.Rinku Singh, getting his first chance to bat in the tournament, manifested what he scribbled down on a placard on September 6 by hitting the winning boundary off his first ball faced.