IND vs PAK: India's record against Pakistan in finals is poor, having been unsuccessful for 18 years.

Posted on 26th Sep 2025 by rohit kumar

The final match of the Asia Cup 2025 between India and Pakistan will be played in Dubai on Sunday. This will be the third time the two teams have faced each other in the current tournament. Previously, India defeated its arch-rival in the group stage and Super Four stages of the Asia Cup, and now it will be looking to achieve a hat-trick of victories against Pakistan. This will not be easy for India, as the team's record against Pakistan in title matches will not be good.

 

First Face-Off in Asia Cup Final

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 11 runs to reach the final of the Asia Cup 2025. Now, it will face India in the title match. The Asia Cup was started in 1984. In 2016, the tournament was played in the T20 format for the first time. The Indian team has won the Asia Cup the most number of times. India has won the Asia Cup eight times so far. Pakistan has won the title only twice, while Sri Lanka has won the title six times. Interestingly, in the 41-year history of the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan have never faced each other in the final.

 

The Indian team remains unbeaten in the tournament.

 

The Indian team may have dominated Pakistan in the last two matches, but it must guard against overconfidence, which could prove fatal. Pakistan didn't seem like a contender for the final, but it bounced back to reach the title match. Considering the record for title matches between India and Pakistan in any tournament, this match will not be easy for India. The Indian team has reached the final after winning five consecutive matches while remaining unbeaten, but even a single mistake on Sunday could prove disastrous.

 

World Championship - 1985

The final match of the World Championship of Cricket was played between India and Pakistan in Melbourne in 1985. India won by eight wickets with 17 balls to spare. Batting first in this match, Pakistan scored 176 runs, while India won in 47.1 overs with the help of half-centuries from Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri.

 

Austral Asia Cup - 1986

The very next year after the World Championship of Cricket final, India and Pakistan faced off in the title match of the Austral-Asia Cup. In this thrilling match, Pakistan won by one wicket in the final over. India, batting first, scored 245 runs for seven wickets, while Pakistan won with the help of Javed Miandad's last-ball six off Chetan Sharma.

 

Wills Trophy - 1991

In the Wills Trophy final, Pakistan, batting first, scored 262 runs for six wickets, but the Indian team could not achieve the target and its innings was reduced to 190 runs. Aaqib Javed took seven wickets for Pakistan for 37 runs, helping Pakistan defeat India.

 

Austral Cup - 1994

Pakistan maintained its dominance in this match played between India and Pakistan in Sharjah. Pakistan scored 250 runs in this match, while chasing the target, the Indian team was reduced to 211 runs and lost by 39 runs.

 

Silver Jubilee Cup - 1998

A triangular series called the Silver Jubilee Cup was played between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, in which the Indian and Pakistani teams reached the final. A total of three final matches were played in Dhaka. The Indian team won the first final by eight wickets, while Pakistan won the second final by six wickets. The third final became decisive, where India won the title by three wickets with one ball remaining.

 

Pepsi Cup - 1999

The very next year after the Silver Jubilee Cup, the Pepsi Cup was held, in which India and Pakistan once again clashed in the final. Pakistan won the final match played in Bangalore by 123 runs. Batting first, Pakistan scored 291 runs, but the Indian team could not chase the target and its innings was reduced to 168 runs.

 

Coca-Cola Cup - 1999

Immediately after winning the Pepsi Cup, India and Pakistan faced each other in the Coca-Cola Cup, but the situation remained unchanged for India. Pakistan won by eight wickets with 132 balls remaining. India batted first in that match, but their innings was reduced to 125 runs. Chasing the target, Pakistan easily won the match with two wickets remaining.

 

T20 World Cup - 2007

India and Pakistan played a title match in a tournament after a long time. In 2007, a young Indian team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni entered the first edition of the T20 World Cup. This was the first time the ICC hosted a World Cup in the shortest format of the game, and India and Pakistan clashed in the final. In the match played in Johannesburg, South Africa, on September 24, 2007, India, batting first, scored 157 for five, thanks to a brilliant half-century by Gautam Gambhir. In reply, Pakistan were all out for 152, and the Indian team won the match by five runs.

 

Kitply Cup - 2008

The following year, after winning the T20 World Cup, India and Pakistan faced off in the final of the Kitply Cup. Pakistan, batting first, scored 315 for three. In response, the Indian team could only manage 290, allowing Pakistan to win the match by 25 runs.

 

ICC Champions Trophy 2017
India and Pakistan clashed in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. The match was played in London, with Pakistan winning by a huge margin of 180 runs. India had defeated Pakistan in the group stage of the tournament, but Pakistan settled the score in the title match. Batting first, Pakistan scored 338 for four, setting a mammoth target for India, but the Indians were all out for 158.