Ravichandran Ashwin mocks Pakistan bowler's role in India's Asia Cup victory
Ravichandran Ashwin humorously credits Pakistan's Haris Rauf for India's Asia Cup triumph, highlighting key moments in the final match.
Last Updated: 09.46 PM, Sep 29, 2025
In a candid and humorous take on India's Asia Cup 2025 final victory over Pakistan, former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin credited Pakistan's pacer Haris Rauf for India's success. Ashwin, known for his witty commentary, acknowledged Rauf's pivotal role in shifting the momentum in India's favor during the tense run chase in Dubai.
The final, held on Sunday, saw India chasing a modest target of 147 runs. Despite early setbacks, including the loss of openers and Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma's composed innings anchored India's chase. However, it was Rauf's erratic bowling that provided India with crucial scoring opportunities, especially during the 15th and 18th overs.
In a post-match analysis on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised Varma's match-winning knock of 69*, describing it as an "outstanding knock" and commended his ability to handle pressure.
"Tilak Varma absolutely stole the show. He showed that he made of veins of ice. Outstanding knock. India were in a very precarious situation. Thanks to Haris Rauf, we won the match easily," said Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
Key moments in the Asia Cup 2025 Final
India's chase began cautiously, with the team at 83/4 in the 15th over. Rauf's delivery in this over was costly, conceding 17 runs, including a six by Varma. The 18th over saw Rauf's full toss dispatched for a six by Shivam Dube, adding 13 more runs to India's tally. In the final over, needing 10 runs, Varma's six and a subsequent four by Rinku Singh sealed the victory for India.
Rauf's bowling figures of 50 runs in 3.4 overs at an economy rate of 13.64 were a stark contrast to India's disciplined bowling performance. Kuldeep Yadav's four-wicket haul and contributions from Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel restricted Pakistan to 146 runs.