India emerge champions despite Pakistan's strong fightback

In what was a battle of nerves, Pakistan put up their best fight of the tournament.

- Rituraj Borkakoty

But India still had enough in their tank to quell the threat and clinch the Asia Cup crown.

The five-wicket win achieved on the back of Tilak Varma's sublime 69 not out off 53 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes) and Kuldeep Yadav's brilliant 4-30 in a thrilling final at a packed Dubai International Stadium was India's third straight win over their arch-rivals in the tournament.

But Pakistan seriously threatened to take the game away when India, chasing 147, were reduced to 20 for three in the fourth over.

It was their first top-order collapse in the tournament as the impressive Faheem Ashraf (4-0-29-3) dismissed Abhishek Sharma (5) and Shubman Gill (12) before Shaheen Shah Afridi (4-0-20-1) removed the out-of-form skipper Suryakumar Yadav (1).

Varma, a fearless shot-maker, then steadied the ship with Sanju Samson (24 off 21 balls), adding 57 runs for the fourth wicket.