On Sunday, September 21, India are set to face Pakistan for the second time in the 2025 Asia Cup. This high-voltage clash is scheduled to be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Super-Four stage of the continental competition.
Ahead of the clash, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s comments in the pre-match press conference, where the Indian T20I captain cheekily dismissed the “rivalry” narrative. Asked about Pakistan, Suryakumar chose
not to refer to them directly, instead remarking that when huge crowds are present, his team's job is simply “to entertain.”
Ashwin believes that Suryakumar didn't elude the question but it was actually his reflection of the team's confidence and dominance over Pakistan in recent years.
"The Indian team haven't played down (the hype). The Indian team have just spoken the truth as it is. There is nothing more to talk about it. That is just the plain truth," Ashwin said in a video on his official YouTube Channel.
He further added, "Suryakumar Yadav has just represented what the Indian team's players were feeling. That is their truth, that is their problem and we have nothing to do with that."
India have not lost a T20I match against since September 2022. Since then, the Men in Blue have beaten their arch-rivals in three matches. The encounter between these two sides in Group A in the ongoing Asia Cup turned out to be one-sided affair.
Pakistan were restricted to 127/9 after Kuldeep Yadav starred with a three-for. Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah also picked up two wickets apiece as Salman Ali Agha's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired.
In reply, India got off to a fantastic start thanks to Abhishek Sharma's hitting prowess inside the powerplay. The left-handed batter amassed 31 runs off just 13 balls. Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply, while Tilak Varma made a run-a-ball 31.
Suryakumar's unbeaten 47 off 37 balls helped India romp home in 15.5 overs, with seven wickets to spare. All three Indian wickets fell to Saim Ayub's part-time spin-bowling.
