India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, paid tribute to the military back home during Sunday’s decisive seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Following heightened diplomatic tensions earlier this year, Sunday’s match in Dubai marks the first time India and Pakistan have met in international cricket. Following a horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and beyond the border.
India is not permitted to participate in “bilateral sports events in each other’s country,” but it is permitted to play Pakistan in “international and multilateral events,” according to a notification from the Union sporting Ministry.
Salman Agha, the captain of Pakistan, and Suryakumar failed to shake hands at toss time, indicating the tensions surrounding the match. Suryakumar and Shivam Dube (10 not out) left quickly after India chased down 128; neither the players nor the support crew shook hands.
It’s the ideal moment to take a break. We support the victims and their families in the terror incident in Pahalgam. We show our unity. I want to dedicate the victory to all of our courageous military personnel. At the post-match presentation ceremony, Suryakumar made an impromptu statement, “I hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to put a smile on their face.”
Remarkably, Agha was not interviewed after the game during the presentation ceremony. “For the entire team, we think it’s just another game,” Suryakumar responded when asked if preparation for this game was different from previous ones. We get everything ready for the opposition.
That was the case a few months ago. The tone was set by the CT winning team. Because spinners dominate the middle of the game, I’ve always been a fan.
With 25 balls remaining, India overcame Pakistan’s 127/9, inspired by Suryakumar’s undefeated 47 on his 35th birthday. “Very nice and a great way to give back to India. He said previously that the triumph was a return present, which is a human trait that keeps coming to mind when you think about it. You have it prepared for when you win, and you sincerely want to win it. Staying there and batting till the very end is one thing I’ve always wanted to do.
Following straightforward plans was effective, according to Kuldeep Yadav, who was selected Player of the Match for his 3–18 stats. “Just carry out the plans. Simply observe who is batting and adjust your response. I made plans and carried them out.
“The first ball is always a wicket-taking ball; you just need to execute that ball with that mindset.” He’s facing me for the first time, even though the batter is set. I still believe that my bowling needs a lot of improvement. I think I utilize too many variations sometimes.
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