Done and dusted! That’s how one can sum up India’s absolutely convincing win over Pakistan in Sunday’s Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai.
The gulf between the quality of the two teams keeps getting wider, just like India’s margin of wins. This was India’s 11th T20I win against Pakistan in their last 14 matches. Clearly, the tide has changed. This is an Indian team that dominates, leads by example and sets the blueprint of success. However, these standards aren’t always set on the field. Sometimes, the true class of an individual and team off the field trumps the on-field highs and achievements, and this was exactly the case with India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
The Indian team, determined to take a stand, refused to shake hands with Pakistan after beating them by a resounding 7-wicket margin. After Surya smashed the winning six, he and Shivam Dube immediately took off, as did the players waiting in the dugout, heading towards the dressing room. Players of Pakistan were stunned at first, but came to terms with the fact that the situation is far from normal.
Surya then exuded class, when he dedicated India’s win to the victims of those who lost their lives during the heinous Pahalgam terror attacks. Even during the post-match press conference, all Suryakumar was focused on was to reveal Team India’s state of mind amid all the boycott calls, and did it with absolute panache when asked about India’s decision not to shake hands with the Pakistan counterparts.
“I think our government and the BCCI were perfectly aligned. We came here and took a call. We came here just to play the game, and we gave a proper reply,” Surya said.
“I feel a few things in life are ahead of a sportsman’s spirit also. And I have already answered it. I have told it at the presentation as well – that we actually stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. And we stand with their families also, express our solidarity.