India Clinch Commanding Win Over Pakistan, But No Handshake Adds to Tension
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Dubai / New Delhi
- Sep 14, 2025
- 367
India registered a clinical seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their Asia Cup Group A clash on Sunday, but it was the absence of the customary post-match handshake that grabbed as many headlines as the game itself.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, who guided India past the finish line with an unbeaten 34-run stand, headed straight to the dressing room after the chase, leaving Pakistan players — including skipper Salman Ali Agha — waiting outside the Indian dugout. None of the Indian squad came out to acknowledge their counterparts, a breach of cricket’s long-standing courtesy that left Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson visibly upset.
Earlier in the evening, too, the tension was evident when Suryakumar and Salman refrained from shaking hands after the toss, exchanging team sheets with the match referee Andy Pycroft before walking away in different directions. Even eye contact was noticeably avoided.
A BCCI insider, however, played down the incident, clarifying that the act wasn’t Pakistan-specific. “For the record, Suryakumar Yadav didn’t shake hands with UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem during the last match’s toss either. Every tournament has its own set of protocols, and in this case, the handshake is not mandatory,” the source told PTI.
India’s Dominance on the Field
On the pitch, though, there was no ambiguity. Pakistan, after opting to bat, collapsed to 127/9 in 20 overs — at least 50 runs short of a competitive score. India’s bowlers delivered in unison:
Hardik Pandya struck with the very first ball.
Jasprit Bumrah followed up in the second over.
Spinners Axar Patel (2/18), Kuldeep Yadav (3/18), and Varun Chakravarthy (1/24) throttled Pakistan’s middle order.
In reply, India’s chase was headlined by fireworks at both ends. Youngster Abhishek Sharma blazed away with 31 off 13 balls against Shaheen Afridi, while birthday boy Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with a classy 47 not out off 37 balls. Dube provided steady support as India sealed victory with 25 balls to spare in just 15.5 overs.
Group A Standings
With back-to-back wins — a nine-wicket triumph over UAE followed by this dominant outing — India remain firmly at the top of Group A. One more win, against Oman on Friday, will guarantee them a place in the Super Four stage.
Beyond the Boundary
While the cricketing result was emphatic, the off-field optics are bound to stir debate. In Indo-Pak clashes where symbolism often overshadows sport, the absent handshake will likely be remembered just as much as India’s ruthless dismantling of their rivals.