From Lasith Malinga to Tilak Varma: Player of the Match in the Finals of each season of Asia Cup

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The Asia Cup 2025 concluded in thrilling fashion at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan to clinch their ninth title. The much-anticipated final saw Pakistan being bowled out for a modest total of 146 runs. India, in reply, chased down the target in 19.4 overs with five wickets to spare, sparking wild celebrations among Indian fans in Dubai and across the globe.

Tilak Varma emerged as the hero of the night with a calm and composed knock. The young left-hander remained unbeaten on 69 runs from 53 balls, laced with three boundaries and four towering sixes. For his match-winning performance under pressure, Tilak was adjudged the Player of the Match in the final, a moment that marked a special chapter in his rising career.

The Asia Cup has often been a tournament where new heroes are born. Interestingly, almost every edition of the continental event has witnessed a fresh face winning the Player of the Match award in the grand finale. Only two cricketers in the history of the competition—India’s Mohammad Azharuddin and Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu—have managed to secure this accolade twice, underlining the rarity of consistency in such high-pressure games.

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From Surinder Khanna in the inaugural edition in 1984 to Tilak in 2025, the award list tells the story of players who rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Some, like Ajantha Mendis in 2008 and Mohammad Siraj in 2023, produced career-defining spells, while others, like Litton Das in 2018 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in 2022, announced themselves with fearless batting. The finals of the Asia Cup have consistently showcased not just team rivalries, but also the rise of individuals whose brilliance turned the tide in their team’s favor.

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