Hardik Pandya Breaks Silence On Missing Asia Cup Final

India’s premier all-rounder was sidelined with a left quadriceps injury for the final against Pakistan, but hailed the team’s ability to ‘hold their nerves’ in the high-pressure chase.

September 30, 2025: Hardik Pandya, India’s star all-rounder, said he was “very gutted” to miss the Asia Cup 2025 final against arch-rivals Pakistan because of an injury that kept him from playing.

Pandya, who had played in all six games before the final, was unable to play in the final on Sunday because he hurt his left quadriceps. His absence hurt the squad a lot, and batsman Rinku Singh took his spot in the playing XI.

In a video issued by the BCCI, the all-rounder talked about how disappointed he was but praised his colleagues. “I was very sad to miss the most critical game, but the manner the boys played was amazing. Pandya stated, “They showed a lot of character.”

The final was quite stressful, but India was able to chase down Pakistan’s target of 147 in 19.4 overs to win by five wickets and win their ninth Asia Cup championship, which is a record.

Pandya thinks that these high-pressure games are very important for the team’s growth. “We’re going to be tested and put under pressure in these games, which will help us in the long run.” He said, “The way we kept our cool was great.”

Pandya said of India’s unbeaten record, in which they dominated most of their matches, “T20 cricket is about that: come and dominate, play a fearless brand, and at the same time learn and adapt. I think this team is learning that.”

He praised opener Abhishek Sharma in particular, saying that his explosive form helped him hit more than 300 runs in the competition with a strike rate of 200. “Abhishek did a great job from the start. The way he played and the fearlessness he showed won us half the game in the Power Play,” Pandya said.

Pandya talked about how dedicated he was to bowling by talking about his personal involvement in the tournament, where he took four wickets in six matches and split the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah. “I’ve always liked any job I’ve been given, and this time I got the new ball, which I really liked…” For a long time now, bowling has been my first priority. Batting is never a problem when Hardik Pandya is bowling. “I see myself as a pure fast bowler, and I’m very proud of that,” he said in the end.