In the final of the Asia Cup 2025, India won the toss and chose to bowl, and India proved their decision right as they restricted Pakistan to a score of 146/10 in 19.1 overs. A rare and notable occurrence took place during the toss presentation time with two commentators involved, one from India, Ravi Shastri, who spoke with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, and the other was Waqar Younis, who talked with Pakistani Captain Agha Salman. India made three changes: Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana made way for Shivam Dubey, Rinku Singh, and Bumrah. Hardik was left out due to injury, Surya confirmed during the toss. Pakistan went with the same 11 from the last match.
Pakistan Starts Strong, But Middle Order Collapses
Pakistani opener Sahibzada Frahan started cautiously in the power play, and they made 45 runs in the first 6 overs. After that, they went after spinners and scored 39 runs in 22 balls, and Pakistan scored 84 runs in 9.4 overs, but Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Sahibzada Frahan. He played an aggressive innings as he scored 57 runs in 38 balls with five fours and three sixes. After that, Saim Ayub joined Fakhar Zaman, and they added 29 runs in 19 balls. Then Kuldeep was dismissed by Saim Ayub in the 2nd last ball of the 13th over; he made 14 runs in 11 balls. After that, Fakhar dismissed Varun after a good knock of 46 runs in 35 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Pakistan suddenly started losing wickets as they lost 8 wickets in the next 38 balls and scored only 33 runs. Pakistan's batsmen spoiled big score opportunities on the board due to their carelessness. Pakistan's middle choked completely. Only the top three batsmen, Frahan, Fakhar, and Saim, scored in double figures; apart from them, everyone scored in single figures. No one imagined till the 12th over that Pakistan would collapse like this.
India’s Bowlers Take Control
India started their bowling with Shivam Dubey, and he started well. In the middle overs, Indian Spinners felt some pressure as Farhan and Fakhar were going after, but they fought back and trashed Pakistan's batting line. Varun dismissed both the openers. Kuldeep got 3 wickets in an over. Axar got 2 important wickets, and in the end, Bumrah also got 2 wickets. Kuldeep started expensively and took wickets, but in the middle overs, he completely changed the match, went economically very low, and got 4 wickets. He is the star bowler from the Indian side.
India has the upper hand as Pakistan spoiled their big score chance. We will see in the next innings that India will completely dominate or Pakistan will change around through bowling.