As the 2025 Asia Cup looms, we revisit the night Dhoni’s men rewrote history in Dhaka
The Asia Cup 2025 is only weeks away. Running from September 9 to 28, the tournament will take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with India and PAK set for a highly anticipated group-stage clash on September 14. Eight teams, divided into two groups, will compete for one trophy — and Suryakumar Yadav will lead India’s charge, supported by Shubman Gill and a youthful batting arsenal.
But before we focus on the desert, it’s worth travelling back to 2016 — to a rain-soaked evening in Dhaka when India, led by MS Dhoni, claimed the Asia Cup in its inaugural T20 format. That final was less about flamboyance and more about calm under pressure, with Dhawan, Kohli, and Dhoni scripting a memorable finish.
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On March 6, 2016, rain shortened the final to 15 overs per side. Batting first, Bangladesh scored 120 for 5, with Sabbir Rahman making 32 and Mahmudullah unbeaten on 33 off 13 balls. The hosts scored 61 runs in the last five overs, putting India under pressure with a challenging chase.
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Every Indian bowler contributed: Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja each took a wicket. However, Bangladesh’s late surge meant all three outcomes remained possible at the interval.
India’s chase started poorly when Rohit Sharma, the hero of the opening match, nicked behind for just one. But Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli built a calm 94-run partnership.
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Dhawan’s 60 off 44 balls — filled with 10 boundaries — was his first T20I fifty in 17 innings, with a strike rate of 136.36. Kohli, the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, contributed with an unbeaten 41 off 28, rotating the strike and maintaining control of the run rate. At 100 for 2 in the 13th over, India appeared to be in command, but the match still had one twist remaining.
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When Dhawan departed with 21 needed off 14 balls, nerves flickered across the Shere Bangla Stadium. Enter Dhoni. He didn’t waste time settling in. Six balls later, India were champions.
Dhoni blasted 20 not out off just 6 deliveries, including 2 sixes and a four, at an astonishing strike rate of 353.33. It was vintage Dhoni — a reminder of his ability to turn tense equations into afterthoughts.
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India wrapped up the chase with seven balls to spare, winning by eight wickets. Dhawan’s half-century earned him the Man of the Match award, while Sabbir Rahman was named Player of the Tournament.
First time in history: India became the first subcontinental side to win the Asia Cup in both ODI and T20 formats.
Perfect record: India won all five matches in the 2016 edition, defeating Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UAE, and Bangladesh twice.
