(Sports Correpondent: Imran Sohail)
Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav Says India vs Pakistan “No Longer a Rivalry” After Another Win
Dubai – September 21, 2025: India captain Suryakumar Yadav has downplayed the hype around the much-talked-about India–Pakistan cricket rivalry, saying the contests can no longer be called a “real rivalry” after his side’s latest victory in the Asia Cup Super Four clash on Sunday.
India registered a six-wicket win, their second triumph over Pakistan in this year’s T20 tournament. The result further extended India’s dominance in the shortest format, with the head-to-head record now standing at 11-3 in India’s favor, alongside one tied match.
The match was played amid ongoing political tensions between the two nations following their military standoff earlier this year. As in previous encounters, the players once again avoided post-match handshakes.
“This is Not a Rivalry Anymore” – Suryakumar
Speaking after the game, Suryakumar dismissed the idea of an evenly matched contest.
“According to me, if two teams play 15–20 matches and the results are 7–7 or 8–7, then that is a rivalry,” he said. “But 13–0, 10–1… I don’t know the exact stats. This is not a rivalry anymore.”
Fielding Concerns for India
Despite the victory, India’s performance in the field raised some concerns. The defending champions dropped four catches during the match, something the skipper acknowledged would need fixing before their next Super Four game against Bangladesh in Dubai on Wednesday.
“The fielding coach has already sent an email to the boys with butter fingers to report to him,” Yadav joked. “But these things happen, and I’m okay with it because it’s early in the tournament. We have bigger matches ahead.”
With India eyeing a place in the Asia Cup final, Suryakumar’s men will look to tighten their fielding and continue their winning momentum.
