The Asia Cup 2025 concluded in thrilling style on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium, the place India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan to clinch their ninth title. The much-anticipated closing noticed Pakistan being bowled out for a modest complete of 146 runs. India, in reply, chased down the goal in 19.4 overs with 5 wickets to spare, sparking wild celebrations amongst Indian followers in Dubai and throughout the globe.
Tilak Varma luggage the celebrated award this season
Tilak Varma emerged because the hero of the night time with a relaxed and composed knock. The younger left-hander remained unbeaten on 69 runs from 53 balls, laced with three boundaries and 4 towering sixes. For his match-winning efficiency underneath stress, Tilak was adjudged the Participant of the Match within the closing, a second that marked a particular chapter in his rising profession.
Uncommon feat in Asia Cup historical past
The Asia Cup has typically been a match the place new heroes are born. Curiously, nearly each version of the continental occasion has witnessed a recent face successful the Participant of the Match award within the grand finale. Solely two cricketers within the historical past of the competitors—India’s Mohammad Azharuddin and Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu—have managed to safe this accolade twice, underlining the rarity of consistency in such high-pressure video games.
Additionally READ: Asia Cup 2025: Complete list of award winners and prize money
A legacy of match-winners
From Surinder Khanna within the inaugural version in 1984 to Tilak in 2025, the award checklist tells the story of gamers who rose to the event when it mattered most. Some, like Ajantha Mendis in 2008 and Mohammad Siraj in 2023, produced career-defining spells, whereas others, like Litton Das in 2018 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in 2022, introduced themselves with fearless batting. The finals of the Asia Cup have constantly showcased not simply workforce rivalries, but additionally the rise of people whose brilliance turned the tide of their workforce’s favor.
Full checklist of Participant of the Match winners in Asia Cup finals (version sensible):
| 12 months | Format | Participant | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | ODI | Surinder Khanna | India |
| 1986 | ODI | Javed Miadad | Pakistan |
| 1988 | ODI | Navjot Sidhu | India |
| 1990-91 | ODI | Mohammad Azharuddin | India |
| 1995 | ODI | Mohammad Azharuddin | India |
| 1997 | ODI | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka |
| 2000 | ODI | Moin Khan | Pakistan |
| 2004 | ODI | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | ODI | Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka |
| 2010 | ODI | Dinesh Karthik | India |
| 2012 | ODI | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan |
| 2014 | ODI | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka |
| 2016 | T20I | Shikhar Dhawan | India |
| 2018 | ODI | Liton Das | Bangladesh |
| 2022 | T20I | Bhanuka Rajapaksha | Sri Lanka |
| 2023 | ODI | Mohammad Siraj | India |
| 2025 | T20I | Tilak Varma | India |
Additionally READ: Mohsin Naqvi stoops to new low with senseless response to PM Narendra Modi after India’s Asia Cup 2025 win over Pakistan
