The Asia Cup 2025 has reached its climax with India and Pakistan set to clash in the final on Sunday, September 28, in Dubai. The T20 tournament, serving as a lead-up to the T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, highlighted the importance of finishers, players tasked with closing out games in high-pressure situations. Here, let us assess the designated finishers of the Super Four teams based on their performances so far.
Asia Cup 2025: Form ratings for finishers from IND, BAN, PAK & SL
Hardik Pandya (India)
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been India’s go-to finisher. While
his bowling has been tidy, his impact with the bat has been modest. He was tasked with finishing games, and managed just 48 runs in the tournament.
His standout contribution came against Bangladesh in the Super Four stage, where he scored 38 off 29 balls. Outside this innings, his contributions have been limited, resulting in an overall average showing. Despite the underwhelming numbers, his experience in handling pressure situations keeps him pivotal for India in the final.
Shamim Hossain (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh’s all-rounder Shamim Hossain has also been employed as a finisher. While he bowled sparingly, his batting at the death has been crucial on several occasions. He scored an unbeaten 42 against Sri Lanka in the group stage, though Bangladesh lost the match.
Against Pakistan, he contributed 30 runs in a tense do-or-die game, but it was not enough to secure a win. Shamim’s performances may not have been spectacular, but his composure while chasing or accelerating the innings reflected his potential as a reliable lower-order batter.
Mohammad Haris (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris had a varied role in the tournament. Opening against Oman, he scored a commanding 66 runs but managed only three runs against India. Later, pushed down the order into the finisher role, Haris contributed in crucial situations.
His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed has made him a key component of Pakistan’s title push. His runs at critical moments underline his value as a finisher.
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka)
Former Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka had a mixed Asia Cup. With the ball, he picked up five wickets and bowled economically, but his batting yielded inconsistent results. In the group stage, he had a few low scores, though his unbeaten 64 against Bangladesh was a highlight, even thought it came in a defeat.
Against India, he smashed 22* off 11 balls, taking the match to a Super Over, but Sri Lanka ultimately lost all three Super Four games. Shanaka’s performances were timely, but they lacked the impact needed to secure victories for his team.
