Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir could barely contain himself. In the closing moments of the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan, the former India opener went wild as Tilak Varma launched Haris Rauf for a towering six in the final over. The blow all but sealed India’s victory, and Gambhir’s table-thumping celebration became as much a part of the highlight reel as the shot itself.It was the 19.2 over, India needing just eight runs from five deliveries. Rauf banged one in short, but Tilak was ready. He rocked back, swung cleanly, and sent the ball soaring over the ropes for an 80-meter maximum. As the Dubai International Stadium erupted, cameras cut to Gambhir, who pounded the commentary desk with both hands, his trademark intensity spilling over. For fans, it was a moment that encapsulated the passion of India-Pakistan cricket — both on and off the field.Click here to watch Gautam Gambhir’s reaction and banging on the table here India’s chase of 147 had been anything but straightforward. The defending champions slumped to 20/3 in the powerplay, losing Abhishek Sharma early and feeling the heat of Pakistan’s pace battery. But Tilak Varma stood tall.Calm under pressure, the left-hander compiled an unbeaten 69, anchoring the innings and counterpunching with flair. He found an able partner in Shivam Dube, whose 33-run knock steadied nerves and built the platform for the finish.Earlier, Pakistan had squandered a flying start. At 113/1, they looked poised for a big total, with Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46) setting the tone. But once Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav got into the act, wickets tumbled. Kuldeep’s 4/30, including a decisive triple-strike in the 17th over, broke the back of Pakistan’s innings, restricting them to 146 all out.India’s five-wicket win handed them a record ninth Asia Cup title. Yet, beyond the statistics, what fans will remember is Gambhir’s unfiltered joy.
