TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Pakistan suffered one of their most dramatic collapses in recent memory. At 113/1 in 12.4 overs they lost their next nine wickets for just 33 runs in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Sunday.
At one stage, with Sahibzada Farhan leading the charge, Pakistan looked set for a formidable total. But a spin-inspired comeback and Jasprit Bumrah’s clinical finishing touches left them stunned
After opting to bowl first, India captain Suryakumar Yadav had surprised many by handing the new ball to Shivam Dube, who responded with a tidy opening spell. Clocking speeds in the early 130s, Dube bowled with control and swing, conceding just four runs in his first over. Sahibzada Farhan eventually broke free with a couple of boundaries but India’s bowlers largely kept him in check during the powerplay
Bumrah, unusually off-colour, was taken on by Farhan once again, cracking a four and a towering six to underline his growing confidence against India’s strike bowler. Pakistan ended the powerplay at a promising 45/0, with Fakhar Zaman biding his time while Farhan freed his arms.
The middle overs belonged almost entirely to Farhan. He peppered the leg-side boundary with his signature cross-batted hoicks, reaching a 35-ball half-century in style. Kuldeep Yadav was taken apart early, with Farhan launching him for a six over deep mid-wicket. With Fakhar finally breaking loose after a slow start, Pakistan marched to 87/1 in 10 overs and then at 113/1, looking set for 180-plus
Then came the meltdown.
Varun Chakravarthy provided the opening India desperately needed, luring Farhan into one slog too many. The opener, after a sparkling half-century, perished for 57, visibly frustrated as he thudded his bat into the turf. Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed the dangerous Saim Ayub, who sliced a cut shot to backward point, before Axar Patel accounted for Mohammad Haris with a poorly judged lofted drive. From 113/1, Pakistan suddenly found themselves 123/4.
The procession didn’t stop there. Fakhar Zaman, after finally finding rhythm, fell to Chakravarthy’s guile, before Axar struck again to dismiss Hussain Talat, whose attempted slog only picked out Sanju Samson. Agha Salman played an ill-fated slog, and Shaheen Afridi, walking in wit
h a better strike-rate than most of Pakistan’s top order this tournament, could do little to stop the rot.
The collapse was epitomised by Kuldeep’s double-strike, as Pakistan lost four wickets for just seven runs in a bewildering passage of play. His variations finally came good after a rough start, finishing with a match-turning spell of 4/30.
From there, it was left to Bumrah to clean up the tail. The yorker that had been missing through much of the competition reappeared at just the right time. He uprooted Haris Rauf’s off stump with a trademark dipping delivery and finished the innings by bowling Mohammad Nawaz. Pakistan’s innings folded in 19.1 overs, leaving their fans in shock at how quickly control had slipped away.
What promised to be a challenging total turned into a modest one, courtesy of reckless batting and India’s relentless spin choke.
