Gautam Gambhir’s fiery reaction steals show in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final | Watch video

The Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28 at Dubai International Stadium was a classic India-Pakistan showdown, culminating in India’s ninth title win, thanks to Tilak Varma’s match-defining six off Haris Rauf. Yet, it was head coach Gautam Gambhir’s electrifying reaction that captured hearts, going viral across social media platforms. His raw passion highlighted the intensity of this iconic rivalry.

A nail-biting thriller

Pakistan, batting first, posted 146 all out, with Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha leading their charge. India’s bowlers, spearheaded by Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel, kept the total in check.

Chasing 147, India faltered early, slipping to 33/3 after losing Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav. Tilak Varma’s gritty 69 not out, alongside partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, turned the tables. With 10 needed off the final over, Varma’s heroics against Rauf sealed the deal, but it was Gambhir’s reaction that became the moment’s heartbeat.

Gautam Gambhir’s celebration

Tilak Varma smashed a slower ball from Haris Rauf for a towering six in the final over, reducing the target to 2 off 4; the Dubai crowd roared. Gautam Gambhir, known for his steely demeanor, let loose. He slammed the bench with both hands, fists pumping, as the coaching staff erupted around him. The video, capturing this unbridled joy, exploded online, racking up millions of views.

This wasn’t Gambhir’s only outburst. Earlier, when Varun dismissed Fakhar Zaman, he punched the air, a callback to his fiery playing days, like the 2007 T20 World Cup heroics against Pakistan. His intensity reflected the stakes: a third straight win over Pakistan in the tournament, cementing India’s dominance.

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Legacy of a rivalry moment

India’s victory, sealed by Rinku Singh’s boundary after Varma’s six, marked another chapter in their Asia Cup dominance. But Gambhir’s fiery bench-slamming moment stole the spotlight, embodying the raw emotion of an India-Pakistan final.

India has a strong record against Pakistan in tournament finals:

By 8 wickets in Melbourne during the Benson and Hedges Cup, 1984/85.

By 8 wickets in Dhaka during the Independence Cup, 1997/98 (part of a best-of-three series).

By 3 wickets in Dhaka during the Independence Cup, 1997/98 (part of a best-of-three series).

By 5 runs in Johannesburg during the T20 World Cup, 2007.

By 5 wickets in Dubai during the Asia Cup, 2025.

India's Asia cup and T20I domination

India has dominated the Asia Cup, clinching four of the last five titles and a total of nine championships (seven in ODI format and two in T20I format), more than any other team. Notably, since 2023, India has been unbeaten in T20Is at multi-nation tournaments, winning all 17 completed matches: two at the Asian Games 2023, eight at the T20 World Cup 2024, and seven at the Asia Cup 2025.