6 min readDubaiSep 29, 2025 01:10 AM IST
First published on: Sep 29, 2025 at 01:02 AM IST
The garish fountains near the boundary ropes emitted fire. Crackers wormed into the skies. Tilak Varma ran like a man possessed as soon as Rinku Singh powered Haris Rauf over mid-on for a four to wrap up a tense five-wicket victory for India over Pakistan to hoist the Asia Cup.
Tilak roared in delight, swiped the air with his fists, turned back to the Pakistani bowlers and clenched his fists after he orchestrated a last-over win over the arch-rivals. Soon, he was lost in a pile of blue shirts, climbing over him. Rinku slid to the turf and kissed it. Pakistan’s tired and deflated men trudged off to the dressing room, their tears melting with sweat. The world and continental champions, India have reasserted their dominance in the shortest format.
Moments building up to the final shot were tense. In the stands, the police had to drag away a scuffling India supporter. India’s batsmen were kept waiting impatiently, as Faheem Ashraf received treatment for an injury. A beatific silence spread across the stadium. India required 17 off the last two overs. It whittled down to 10 off the last seven balls. Pakistan found a ray of hope when Ashraf dismissed Shivam Dube. But Tilak heaved the second ball of Haris Rauf for a thunderous six to bring the target down to two off four balls. India could breathe easy. The shores of victory were close. The shot forever be entrenched in Tilak’s heart. It’s his shot for posterity. Perhaps, the stroke that launchpads his career, too.
This was not a straightforward victory. India were dragged to the precipice of doom several times. First when, Pakistan rattled out 84 runs without getting scarred in 9.3 overs. India rebounded, bowling out the adversaries for 146. A modest total in normal circumstances, but not in a continental final, and not with the narratives in the background.
In finals, teams seldom regroup from such adversities. Often, they slink into a state of confusion and make reactive choices. It was no ordinary final either. With captain Suryakumar Yadav’s comments and gestures after the first match against Pakistan in the tournament carrying a political echo, India had built up the final to such a space they could not afford to lose. If they did, the backlash would have been severe, even life and career changing. Somewhere, they had to find a source of inspiration.
Then, set aback by the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in the space of eight balls, India had to fight back again. Abhishek was India’s tempo-setter in the tournament, Suryakumar is not in his most ominous touch but is arguably India’s finest ever batsman in the format. Soon, they found themselves at 20 for three before Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson resuscitated them with a 57-run stand of ice and fire. Sanju departed, but Tilak steered the side past choppy waters to etch the most defining moment of his career. A new hero announced his entry. It is the hallmark of great teams. New heroes pop when old heroes fail.
But in the broader canvas, Indian winning the trophy has, after all, been a fait accompli since the tournament began. Regardless, that was another item crossed off their bucket list, another trophy in the glass case, another tale in their folklore to be handed down generations. The celebrations were frenzied, with tension simmering between the two sides that had pained the contest with a political hue, but underneath, there was an overwhelming sense of inevitability.
In sport, drama takes precedence over distinction, but this extraordinary Indian side deserves greater salutation for the consistent, bewildering quality of their work. They prevailed with super efficiency, without doubt the best side on the day and the best in the tournament. They were always destined to claim the trophy if they could hold their nerve. This they did almost unwaveringly, stretched only by Sri Lanka in the last group game.
In doing so, they have also reached another milestone in what appears to be a deliberate, concerted campaign to build a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that this is the greatest T20 side the world has produced. India has not just reconfigured what it takes to succeed, but redefined how the game thinks of excellence. Its dominance feels more extreme than anything that went before, largely because it is. What it has done, over these last few years, is plain for all to see. Their rhythms are hardened to routine, the winning routines are grooved and drilled. India is the gold standard, the mythical image of perfection. Closest to a Dream Team in T20 cricket. In both style and substance. Every team will be measured against this team. India killed Pakistan softly, almost imperceptibly, but defeated it absolutely.
India’s Tilak Varma reacts after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Before the Asia Cup, Suryakumar said this was the first step towards the World Cup defence. The first step was firm, now the pinnacle beckons. Until then, it’s the best in the world; best in Asia too. So crooned the mass of blue in the stands. The crowd lingered, dancing wildly, soaking in the moment, but careful not to offend the vanquished. Some of them embraced and congratulated each other. Handshakes — the gestures that define the tournament — were generously exchanged in the stands. The mood in the middle was intense, in the stands it was lighter and affable, but for an odd scuffle before the penultimate over.
Even at 3.30 pm local time, three hours before the first ball was bowled, the streets around the Dubai International Stadium had turned into a fiesta of colour and noise. Almost everyone was draped in avocado green or sapphire blue. Flags were officially banned in the stadium, but still proudly fluttered in the stands. The fireworks that giggled into the crisp air gave a cinematic ambience. And then the fireworks wiggled into the skies again, with India celebrating wildly.
India's Tilak Varma reacts after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) 
India’s Tilak Varma reacts after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
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