Team India has once again proven their prowess on the T20 stage, securing a place in the Asia Cup 2025 final with a clinical 41-run win over Bangladesh in the Super 4 stage. The victory, achieved on Wednesday, September 24 in Dubai, not only cemented India’s top position in the Super 4 points table but also knocked Sri Lanka out of the tournament. As things stand, India will face the winner of the upcoming Pakistan vs Bangladesh clash in the final scheduled for Sunday, September 28.
India’s Road to the Final
India’s unbeaten run in the tournament continued as they delivered a commanding all-round performance against Bangladesh. Young opener Abhishek Sharma led from the front with a sensational 75 off just 37 balls, helping India post a competitive total of 168/6. He found an able partner in Shubman Gill (29), with the duo putting up a rapid 77-run opening stand in just 6.2 overs. However, after their departure, the Indian middle-order failed to capitalise on the strong start, and the team settled for what was considered a par score on a slow Dubai surface.
Bangladesh’s chase never really got going. Apart from Saif Hassan, who fought valiantly with a 51-ball 69, the rest of the batting lineup faltered under pressure. India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, ensuring Bangladesh were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs.
Bowling Brilliance Leads the Way
India’s bowlers were clinical throughout the innings. Kuldeep Yadav continued his rich vein of form with impressive figures of 3/18, troubling the Bangladeshi batters with his variations. Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel also kept the pressure on, picking up crucial wickets and maintaining tight lines.
This win extended India’s T20I record against Bangladesh to 17-1 and 3-0 in T20 Asia Cup matches, highlighting the Men in Blue’s dominance in this fixture.
Super 4 Points Table: India on Top
With this result, India now sits comfortably at the top of the Super 4 table with four points from two matches. Pakistan and Bangladesh remain in the hunt with two points each, while Sri Lanka, having lost both of their matches, are officially out of contention. The Pakistan vs Bangladesh clash on Thursday will essentially serve as a semi-final, with the winner earning the right to challenge India in Sunday’s final.
India’s final Super 4 match against Sri Lanka on Friday will now be a dead rubber, having no bearing on the final standings.
Eyes on a Ninth Title
India’s journey to the final has been emphatic so far. They’ve defeated all their opponents in convincing fashion, including two victories over arch-rivals Pakistan – once in the group stage and again in the Super 4. With eight Asia Cup titles already under their belt, India are just one win away from securing a record-extending ninth title.
Looking Ahead: India A Squad News
While the senior team is focused on the Asia Cup final, there have also been important developments regarding India A. The revised squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A has been announced. The series kicks off on September 30 in Kanpur.
Shreyas Iyer will lead the side across all three matches, a change from the earlier plan where Rajat Patidar and Tilak Varma were expected to captain the first and the following games, respectively. The first match squad includes promising names like Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, and Ravi Bishnoi, among others.
Interestingly, Priyansh Arya and Simarjeet Singh will only be part of the squad for the opening game. For the second and third matches, Tilak Varma (as vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana will join the team after taking a short break following the Asia Cup final.
Shreyas Iyer Opts Out of Red-Ball Cricket
On a related note, Shreyas Iyer has decided to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to recurring back issues. He informed the BCCI via email and has already pulled out of the four-day India A match against Australia A. As a result, he is unlikely to feature in India’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies.
Final Thoughts
India’s performance in the Asia Cup 2025 has been nothing short of dominant. With an unbeaten record and a well-rounded squad firing in all departments, the team looks well on course to lift their ninth Asia Cup title. But before they celebrate, one final hurdle awaits – either Pakistan or Bangladesh. All eyes now turn to Thursday’s virtual semi-final, which will decide who joins India in the grand finale on Sunday in Dubai.
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