India and Pakistan will face each other in the Asia Cup 2025 final for the first time in the history of the tournament. The two arch-rivals will meet on Sunday, September 28, in Dubai. In the tournament’s history since its inception in 1984, there had been no India-Pakistan final for 41 long years. The streak has been broken as both the arch-rivals are in the final in 2025.
Pakistan confirmed their place in the final after beating Bangladesh by 11 runs in their last Super 4 match. Batting first, Pakistan managed only 135 for 8. But their bowlers stepped up. Shaheen Afridi took 3 for 17 while Haris Rauf picked 3 for 33. They restricted Bangladesh to 124 for 9 and sealed the win.
This will be the third clash between India and Pakistan in this year’s Asia Cup. As it is also the first time the two teams will contest the Asia Cup final in the 41-year history of the event, this match draws much attention and hype. Off-field controversy, recent political tensions, banters through the comments of Suryakumar Yadav and gestures of Haris Rauf – everything will come into play. Needless to say, it will be more than just a cricket match.
On the other hand, India are roaring as they are going into the final as an unbeaten side, only challenged by Sri Lanka in their last super 4 game which went into a super over. Even after that India unleashed their dominating side, getting both the Sri Lankan wickets conceding just 2 runs in the super over, and chasing down hitting a three in the very first ball, as Hardik Pandya finished it off. Considering India’s recent form, it is very unlikely that they will be defeated by Pakistan in such an important game like the final. However, Abhishek Sharma, who has scored a record 309 runs so far in the tournament, has delivered for India in every game of the edition so far, and we don’t yet have an answer to how India would survive without his service. If Pakistan can get the wicket of the talented left-handed batter early, they might keep India under pressure and get the results in their favour, finally.
India and Pakistan have already faced each other five times in finals of multi-nation tournaments. Out of those five, Pakistan won three while India won two.
The first meeting came in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket final in Melbourne. Pakistan made 176 for 9. India chased it down with ease, winning by eight wickets thanks to Ravi Shastri and Kris Srikkanth.
The most famous clash came a year later in the Austral-Asia Cup final in Sharjah. Sunil Gavaskar scored 92 as India posted 245. Pakistan chased the target with a last-ball six from Javed Miandad, who finished unbeaten on 116.
In 1994, the two sides met again in the Austral-Asia Cup final. Pakistan scored 250 for 6 with key contributions from Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail and Basit Ali. India could only make 211 and lost by 39 runs.
The 2007 T20 World Cup final in Johannesburg saw another thriller. Gautam Gambhir’s 75 helped India reach 157 for 5. Pakistan fell short by five runs as Misbah ul Haq’s attempted scoop was caught by Sreesanth in the final over.
Their most recent final was in the 2017 Champions Trophy in London. Fakhar Zaman’s 114 powered Pakistan to 338 for 4. In reply, India collapsed to 158 all out after Mohammad Amir’s fiery spell. Pakistan won by 180 runs.
Now, after eight years, the two teams will meet again in a major final. The stage is set for another historic clash on Sunday.
