Lagatar24 Desk
Team India claimed its ninth Asia Cup crown after defeating Pakistan by five wickets in a nail-biting final on Sunday, September 28. This marked India’s first-ever Asia Cup final against Pakistan, making the victory even more historic.
India’s Dominance Over Pakistan
With this triumph, India not only lifted the Asia Cup for a record ninth time but also registered its third consecutive win over Pakistan in the tournament. Fans witnessed an electrifying encounter that will go down in the annals of India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
PM Modi Congratulates Team India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team, calling the victory “Operation Sindoor on the cricket field” in a social media post. He praised the players for their grit and determination, saying the result was once again India’s victory.
Pakistan’s Collapse After Strong Start
Pakistan began strongly with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman putting up a century stand. Farhan’s aggressive half-century off just 38 balls put India on the backfoot early on. However, spinner Kuldeep Yadav turned the game around with a magical spell, claiming four wickets for just one run. The collapse left Pakistan reeling, eventually bowled out for 146. Alongside Kuldeep, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two wickets each.
Tilak Varma’s Heroics Seal the Victory
Chasing 147, India stumbled early, losing Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill for just 20 runs. Sanju Samson (22) and Tilak Varma stabilized the innings with a crucial 57-run stand. Later, Tilak (69* not out) combined with Shivam Dube (32) for a 60-run partnership that took India close to the finish line.
In the final over, with 10 runs required, Tilak smashed a towering six off Haris Rauf before Rinku Singh sealed the win with a boundary. Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf was the pick of their bowlers, claiming three wickets.
