In the midst of the heated debate surrounding the controversial trophy ceremony where the Indian team declined to take the Asia Cup from Mohsin Naqvi, head of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, it’s easy to be sidetracked by non-cricket matters.
Nevertheless, ignoring the players who delivered a thrilling India-Pakistan final at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday would be an injustice.
Praise is due to the Pakistan team for putting up a strong fight against a formidable Indian side. Had their middle-order shown more composure and added 20 runs, the outcome might have been different. Their bowlers, except for Haris Rauf (3.4-0-50-0), kept Pakistan competitive even as their batting collapsed to 146 after a great start.
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For India, this marked their fourth title in five major tournaments since 2023, showcasing their immense talent and capability to win challenging white-ball matches.
Despite India’s comfortable wins over Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Sunday promised a more competitive match.
Three players stood out with spectacular performances, making it a memorable game.
Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma shone in the final.
The 22-year-old left-handed batsman from Hyderabad played a career-defining innings. Entering the crease at 20 for three, chasing 147 against a spirited Pakistan, Varma faced a daunting task.
The target wasn’t large, but the pressure was immense in a final marred by controversies.
Varma conquered Pakistan’s sharp bowling and the high expectations to score a flawless 69 not out off 53 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes).
As a Mumbai Indians star, he steadied the innings with a 57-run stand with Sanju Samson, followed by another crucial partnership with Shivam Dube, guiding India near victory.
When Dube was dismissed with 10 needed off six balls, Pakistan had a glimmer of hope.
But Varma’s fourth six off Haris ended Pakistan’s chances before Rinku Singh finished the match.
While Abhishek Sharma, the tournament’s top scorer with 314 runs, won the player-of-the-tournament award, it was Varma’s mix of skill and composure that sealed the memorable win for India.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav (right) celebrates a wicket with Suryakumar Yadav.
The left-arm spinner boasts an impressive 13.12 average in T20 Internationals, exceptional for a bowler in a batsman-friendly format. Against Pakistan, Kuldeep averages 9.87, a remarkable statistic.
Kuldeep was crucial in turning the match on Sunday after Pakistan started strong.
Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman added 84 runs in 9.4 overs, placing Pakistan in control.
Kuldeep’s skill and accuracy sparked a dramatic collapse, dismissing Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Faheem Ashraf, finishing with 4-0-30-4 as Pakistan lost nine wickets for 33 runs.
Ending the tournament with 17 wickets, Kuldeep reaffirmed his status as a leading white-ball spinner.
He has taken 23 wickets in 10 matches — seven ODIs and three T20Is — against Pakistan.
While India had multiple stars, without Kuldeep’s four wickets, Pakistan might have set a formidable total.
Sahibzada Farhan
Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot.
The opening batsman revived Pakistan’s hopes with his aggressive half-century in the Asia Cup final against India.
Had Pakistan triumphed over India, a team that dominated them in earlier matches, Suryakumar Yadav’s squad would have suffered a rare defeat.
For significant periods in the final, after India put Pakistan to bat, Salman Agha’s team seemed poised for an upset.
Farhan (57, 38 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) ignited Pakistan’s innings, forming an 84-run opening stand with Fakhar Zaman (46).
Zaman anchored the innings while Farhan fearlessly challenged India’s bowlers, showcasing his shot-making abilities.
Farhan became the first to hit three sixes off Jasprit Bumrah in T20 Internationals, with a memorable long-off six.
The 29-year-old delivered a stellar knock, his second consecutive half-century against India in the tournament, putting Pakistan on top.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s middle-order couldn’t capitalize on the strong start from Farhan and Zaman.
With 15-20 additional runs on a pitch where their bowlers excelled, Pakistan might have achieved a rare victory over India.
