Dubai: India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated his team’s Asia Cup league stage victory over Pakistan to the country’s armed forces, defending the squad’s decision not to shake hands with their arch-rivals.
India secured a seven-wicket win against Pakistan in Dubai, ending the match on a tense note as players skipped the customary post-match handshake—a decision backed by the support staff and approved by the BCCI. The match proceeded despite boycott calls amid heightened geopolitical tensions following the April Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist bases across the border in May.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Suryakumar said, “We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply. Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor and stand with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.” He added, “We are aligned with our government and the BCCI.”
Despite protests and calls for a boycott, a near-capacity crowd—85% of them Indian fans—watched Pakistan being dismantled on the field. The tension was visible throughout, as Indian players avoided handshakes both at the toss and after the match, even as Pakistan’s team stood ready to greet them moments after Suryakumar sealed the win with a six.
India’s spinners were instrumental in the victory. Axar Patel (2/18 in 4 overs), Kuldeep Yadav (3/18 in 4 overs), and Varun Chakravarthy (1/24 in 4 overs) bowled with precision, restricting Pakistan to a modest total of 127/9—at least 50 runs below the par score.
The win not only highlighted India’s dominance on the field but also underscored the team’s alignment with national sentiment in the wake of recent security concerns.
