India's Nail-Biting Asia Cup Victory: Reliving the 2018 Final Thriller Against Bangladesh

The Asia Cup 2025 is upon us. Within the next week, the top teams of the continent will go head to head in the T20I format. This will be the best possible preparation for the teams going into the T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be played in India in the months of February and March.

As the continental powerhouses take on each other, at India Today, take a look at some of the best matches from this tournament.

India vs Bangladesh: Asia Cup 2018 Final

In one of the most dramatic Asia Cup finals in history, India edged past Bangladesh by three wickets off the very last ball to claim their seventh Asia Cup title on September 28, 2018. Played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the final had everything—heroics with the bat, collapses, comebacks, and a finish worthy of a blockbuster.

Batting first, Bangladesh looked in command thanks to a sublime century by Liton Das. The opener scored a brilliant 121 off 117 balls, his maiden ODI hundred, anchoring a solid start alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who opened with him for the first time. The duo stitched together a 120-run partnership, giving Bangladesh the perfect platform in the title clash.

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However, once the Indian bowlers found their rhythm, the innings unravelled. Kuldeep Yadav (3/45) and Kedar Jadhav (2/41) led the charge as Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals, suffering a dramatic middle-order collapse. From 120 for no loss, they crumbled to 222 all out in 48.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah played their roles with tight spells as India clawed back into the contest.

A Cat and Mouse Chase

Chasing 223, India’s innings was far from straightforward. The top order stumbled early, with Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu falling cheaply. Skipper Rohit Sharma steadied the ship with a composed 48, but his dismissal once again exposed India’s middle order. Dinesh Karthik (37) and MS Dhoni (36) added crucial runs under pressure, but neither could see the chase through.

As wickets continued to fall and the asking rate tightened, Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stepped up with a gritty 45-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Their calm approach pushed India closer, but Bhuvneshwar’s dismissal brought back retired hurt Kedar Jadhav, who had earlier limped off with a hamstring injury.

In a tension-filled final over, with scores level and one run needed off the last ball, Jadhav held his nerve. The final ball clipped his pad and trickled down to the unprotected fine-leg area, sealing a sensational victory for India. Jadhav’s return to the crease and his composed finish made him the unsung hero of the night.

Despite being on the losing side, Liton Das was named Player of the Match for his century that nearly won Bangladesh the title. The defeat was heartbreaking for the Tigers, who had fought valiantly despite missing key players due to injury.

For India, the victory marked not just another Asia Cup win, but one of the most thrilling finishes in recent memory. It highlighted the depth of the squad, the resilience under pressure, and the importance of every contribution—whether with the ball, the bat, or even a single run off the final delivery.

The 2018 final remains one of the most unforgettable matches in Asia Cup history—a reminder that in cricket, it’s never over until the very last ball.

Here's the full highlights of the match.