Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in the Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan
India’s clinical performance against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash was overshadowed by controversy. After sealing a dominant seven-wicket win in Dubai, Indian players skipped the customary post-match handshake with their arch-rivals, leaving Pakistan’s squad waiting.
Handshake Drama at Asia Cup 2025
At the end of the match, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube—who guided India home with an unbeaten stand—walked straight to the dressing room. None of the Indian players came out to greet their Pakistani counterparts, despite Salman Ali Agha’s men waiting near the dugout.
Reports suggest Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson was visibly upset with the gesture. Earlier in the evening, both captains had avoided a handshake at the toss as well, making the cold exchange hard to miss.
BCCI Source Clarifies on Suryakumar’s Gesture
The incident quickly sparked debates across the cricket fraternity. However, a senior BCCI source clarified the act was not directed at Pakistan. According to the source, Suryakumar had also skipped the handshake with UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem during India’s tournament opener.
“Every tournament has different rules and protocols. It’s not mandatory to shake hands at the toss. For context, Suryakumar didn’t shake hands with the UAE captain either,” the source told PTI.
This clarification suggests the absence of handshakes was more about personal practice or tournament guidelines than rivalry tensions.
India Dominate Pakistan in One-Sided Clash
While the handshake snub grabbed headlines, the match itself was a one-sided affair. Batting first, Pakistan endured a disastrous start. Hardik Pandya struck with the very first ball, followed by Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Mohammad Harris early. The top order collapsed under pressure.
Spinners then tightened the noose. Axar Patel bowled with accuracy, returning figures of 2/18 in four overs. Kuldeep Yadav was lethal with 3/18, while Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with 1/24. Pakistan never recovered and crawled to 127/9, at least 50 runs short of a competitive total.
Explosive Start Seals India’s Chase
Chasing 128, India wasted no time. Young opener Abhishek Sharma took on Shaheen Shah Afridi, blasting 31 runs off just 13 balls. His fearless strokeplay put Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure from the start.
Suryakumar Yadav, celebrating his 35th birthday, anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 47 from 37 balls. Shivam Dube supported him with crucial runs as India wrapped up the match in just 15.5 overs.
India Stay on Top of Asia Cup 2025 Group A
With this commanding victory, India remain unbeaten in the Asia Cup 2025. They sit comfortably at the top of Group A after earlier defeating UAE by nine wickets. A win in their next clash against Oman on Friday will secure their progression to the second round.
Rivalry Overshadowed by Post-Match Gesture
The India vs Pakistan rivalry has always carried extra intensity, but this time, it was the missing handshake that stole the spotlight. While India’s dominant performance showcased their cricketing superiority, the walk-off moment sparked debates about sportsmanship.
Whether it was a personal choice, protocol, or coincidence, the absence of the customary handshake ensured the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clash ended with as much talk off the field as on it.
