Pakistan's antics prove Sura got under their skin

• India dominates PAK in Asia Cup 2025, winning twice in 7 days.
• Yadav's remarks and actions frustrate PAK, who hired a mental coach last minute.
• Yadav dismisses IND-PAK rivalry; India's maturity contrasts with PAK's antics.

The recent statements by Yadav have frustrated PAK to a point where the latter hired a mental conditioning coach 24 hours before the match

India is on a roll

in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, having defeated PAK the second time in a span of seven days. Be it the bowling unit or the batting, the Indian line-up is getting praise from all quarters and is the favourite to win the tournament. However, Captain Suryakumar Yadav deserves a special shoutout, not because of his captaincy on the field but for the way he has gotten into PAK’s skin with his words.

Suryakumar’s conduct

It all started with Suryakumar Yadav not shaking hands with PAK players in the group stage match, which riled up not only PAK’s players but also the PCB, former players, and their entire nation. PAK’s defeat in the first match was truly humiliating, and India’s no-handshake policy further embarrassed PAK.

PAK’s antics

From complaints to threats of leaving the tournament, PAK tried strange antics off the field, but it did not end after the group stage clash. The team put itself in a difficult position by hiring a mental conditioning coach just 24 hours before their clash against India in the Super Four stage.

It is strange that PAK never considered strengthening the mental condition of its present team, and what’s worse is that a mental coach was hired only 24 hours before the game. By doing so, didn’t PAK itself question the mental strength of its own players before a crucial match?

(Credit- Daily Jagran)

The antics didn’t stop because instead of focusing on Haris Rauf, who thought it was more important to make gestures to the Indian audience, or Sahibzada Farhan, who could’ve won the game for PAK, thought his machine-gun celebration would have some effect on the game.

Yes, PAK’s batting was considerably better compared to their first clash against India, but at the moment, the team simply isn’t playing cricket. It is seeking revenge, hoping to embarrass India in some way, but not playing enough cricket to win a game and make a statement.

Suryakumar again

Post the Sunday game, Suryakumar Yadav’s statement must have further scratched PAK’s open wounds. In the conference, Yadav, without an iota of hesitation, called PAK no rival of India. The captain’s exact words were, “You guys should stop asking questions about the rivalry between IND-PAK. According to me, if the two teams are playing 15-20 games, and the scoreline is 7-7 or 8-7, then it is called a rivalry. 10-0, 10-1, I don't know what the stat is, but this is not a rivalry anymore. I think we played better cricket than them (Pakistan), and also from a bowling point of view.”

(Credit- NDTV Sports)

In the days to come, even if PAK wins against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and reaches the final to meet India, expectations from PAK will be to focus on the game and individual performances instead of losing their minds collectively. After all, at the moment, maturity and PAK aren’t being spotted on the same table.