The stage is set for a monumental encounter in cricket history as arch-rivals India and Pakistan are poised to face each other in the Asia Cup 2025 final. The two teams will now play for the coveted trophy for the first time in the tournament’s 41-year history, ending a long-standing trend in which they have never faced each other in the title decider. The final will be played on Sunday, September 28.
Why is This Final So Historic?
Since the Asia Cup’s inception, India and Pakistan have been the tournament’s biggest draw. But the two teams have never faced each other in the championship game, even though they have played each other a lot in the group and Super Four rounds. In what could be an exciting match, India, captained by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, will be vying for a record-extending ninth championship, while Pakistan, captained by Salman Ali Aga, will be vying for their third.
How Have the Teams Fared So Far in This Tournament?
This final will be the third India-Pakistan match of the 2025 Asia Cup, with India holding a clear psychological advantage.
First Match (September 14): In the league stage, India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets.
Second Match (Super Four): In their subsequent meeting in the Super Four stage, India won by a margin of six wickets.
India will try to record a historic clean sweep against their rivals in the same competition, while Pakistan will have an opportunity to redeem themselves in the upcoming final.
How Did Pakistan Reach the Final?
Pakistan’s path to the final was more dramatic than India’s. India won both of its matches to take the lead in the points table after the Super Four stage and guarantee a direct berth in the championship game. With two points apiece, Pakistan and Bangladesh advanced to the elimination stage for the second finalist position on Thursday, September 25.
In a tense, low-scoring thriller, Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl. Their bowlers dismantled Pakistan’s top order, restricting the team to a modest total of 135 runs. But Pakistan’s bowlers put up a strong fight, and in a thrilling conclusion, they bowled out Bangladesh to secure their spot in the final by winning by just 11 runs.
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What Can We Expect from the Grand Finale?
No rivalry in cricket, perhaps in all sport, carries the heat of India vs. Pakistan. In a final, the tension peaks—India arrive dominant, Pakistan enter battle-tested, setting up a classic. The two titans of Asian cricket will record a new, monumental chapter in the history of the game on Sunday, September 28.
