Asia Cup 2025: India's Rampage vs Pakistan's Unpredictability in Final; Who Will Stand Tall?

India will take on Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28. After 41 years and 17 editions, these two nations are finally facing off in the summit clash of the Asia Cup. Pakistan earned the right to face India after defeating Bangladesh in the Super 4 by 11 runs. India had qualified with a game in hand when they beat Bangladesh by 41 runs. That knocked Sri Lanka out and now Bangladesh too are out of the race.

India have been on a rampage in T20Is for some time now. They have won 22 out of 25 games since winning the T20 World Cup last year. They have also won 40 out of their last 45 T20I games which is just amazing. In this tournament, they have won five out of five and beaten Pakistan twice in a week. In fact, the final is their third meeting in Asia Cup 2025 in the span of two weeks.

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India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Final Unexpected

Before the start of Asia Cup 2025 nobody expected India and Pakistan to meet in the final. India were the favourites but Pakistan were not expected to go the distance. In fact, Afghanistan was slated as India’s biggest challenge followed by Sri Lanka. Well, Afghanistan never made it to the Super 4 and Sri Lanka got knocked out before the final as well. Bangladesh were taken care of by Pakistan who now have a chance to beat India in the most important match, the Asia Cup 2025 final.

Realistically, on paper and in skill, India are miles ahead of Pakistan. Not just the stats but even history is in India’s favour. India have won 12 out of 21 Asia Cup games vs Pakistan and also four out of five Asia Cup T20I matches. They have won seven out of the last eight internationals and not lost in any game since 2022. India have won their last four T20Is and also have 12 wins in 15 T20Is vs Pakistan. So the Men in Blue are firm favourites to win the Asia Cup 2025 title.

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India’s Rampage vs Pakistan’s Unpredictability in Asia Cup 2025 Final

But the problem India face is Pakistan’s unpredictability. They can pull off a surprise when people least expect it. They even end up surprising themselves. It may end up being a fluke but that fluke is in the final and that will hurt a team that has dominated the tournament. Rewind to 2017 when India took on Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final. It was a given India would win but Pakistan pulled a rabbit out of a hat and crushed the Men in Blue by 180 runs. India have a 2-1 record vs Pakistan in big tournament finals having won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket and 2007 T20 World Cup. But that is the beauty of this game, miracles happen when you least expect it.

So it’s India’s rampage vs Pakistan’s unpredictability. Played in the backdrop of border tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, this rivalry has been spiced up more by the Pakistan players’ provocative gestures and the verbal battles with Indian players in the Asia Cup Super 4. On September 28, one team shall rise and one shall fall. Which side will be standing tall at the end of the Asia Cup 2025 final and lift the trophy? For that we have to wait only for a little while before all is revealed.