Asia Cup 2025: 'Few things bigger than sportsman spirit' - Suryakumar Yadav on India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan team

Following India’s impressive seven-wicket win over Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2025 group-stage clash in Dubai on Sunday, skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to engage in the customary pre- and post-match handshakes with the opposition.

The April terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, triggered debates over whether India should face Pakistan in the Asia Cup at all. While the government gave its approval for participation, many called for its boycott.

However, the BCCI fielded a full-strength

team, and Suryakumar made it clear that while India would play, they wouldn’t compromise on their stand. His decision to forgo the handshake ritual was deliberate and showed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the armed forces. The right-handed player later defended the team's decision.

"Our government and BCCI, we were aligned together. The rest, we came here, we took a call. I feel we came here just to play the game. I think we gave them a proper reply. Few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit. We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and we stand with their families. As I said, we dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor," said the Indian captain at the post-match press conference.

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We were ready to shake hands: Mike Hesson 

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation in protest, with head coach Mike Hesson later revealing they were disappointed by India’s conduct. 

“We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game. We were disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that. We had gone towards them to shake hands but they had already gone back to the dressing room. It was a disappointing way for the match to finish. We were disappointed with the way we played but certainly we were willing to go and shake hands. It was just a flow-on effect (Salman Agha not coming for post-match presentation) of the fact that we were keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match but that didn’t happen. That was pretty much the end of it,” said Hesson.

India dominated the game right from the first ball. Hardik Pandya dismissed opener Saim Ayub on the first delivery. Pakistan struggled against India’s attack, managing only 127 for nine in their 20 overs. Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Axar Patel (2/18) ran through the middle order, while Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two wickets. Only Sahibzada Farhan (40) and Shaheen Afridi’s late cameo (33* off 16) helped the Men in Green push their total till 127.

Chasing 128, Abhishek Sharma’s 31 off 13 and Tilak Varma’s 31 kept the team well within the required run-rate. Suryakumar then anchored the innings with a 47 not out off 37, finishing the game in style with a six. India wrapped up the chase in just 15.5 overs, sealing their second win of the tournament and topping Group A.