For the first time in Asia Cup history, arch-rivals Pakistan and India will meet in the final on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the high-voltage clash, as both teams prepare to face off in a match that promises intense competition.
In the ongoing Asia Cup T20 tournament hosted in the UAE, Pakistan and India have already played twice, with India emerging victorious on both occasions. Historically, in the T20 format, India holds a dominant record over Pakistan. Since their first T20 clash in 2007, the two nations have played 15 matches, out of which India has won 12, while Pakistan has managed to win only 3. This one-sided record has led many cricket analysts to label India as the favorite for the final.
However, the overall history of finals in multi-nation tournaments tells a different story. When it comes to summit clashes, Pakistan enjoys a slight edge over India. Since 1985, the two teams have faced each other in five multi-nation tournament finals across different formats. Pakistan has won three of those finals, while India has won two.
Their first final encounter came in 1985 during the World Championship in Australia, where India triumphed with an eight-wicket win. The very next year, in 1986, Pakistan scripted one of the most memorable moments in cricket history when Javed Miandad hit a last-ball six in Sharjah to secure a one-wicket victory in the Austral-Asia Cup final.
In 1994, the two sides once again met in the Austral-Asia Cup final at Sharjah. Pakistan maintained their dominance, defeating India by 39 runs. However, India struck back in 2007 when the two teams clashed in Johannesburg during the inaugural T20 World Cup final. In a nail-biting finish, India edged out Pakistan by just five runs to lift the historic trophy.
The most recent final between the rivals was the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval in London. On that occasion, Pakistan produced a commanding performance, thrashing India by 180 runs to clinch the title.
In addition to these five major finals, the two nations have also crossed paths in three tri-series finals, with Pakistan winning two and India winning one.
As Pakistan and India prepare to meet again in the Asia Cup 2025 final, history suggests that while India has dominated in T20 encounters, Pakistan has often risen to the occasion in multi-nation finals. With both sides carrying their share of pressure and expectations, the upcoming final is set to add another dramatic chapter to one of cricket’s most celebrated rivalries.
