Dubai | Asia Cup 2025 – The eagerly awaited India vs Pakistan encounter turned into a one-sided affair on Sunday as India cruised to a seven-wicket win in Dubai. More important, however, to the headlines was not the margin of victory but the lack of handshake between the two sides before or after the match.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav finished not out on 47 off 37 balls, concluding the chase with a slog sweep against spinner Sufiyan Muqeem. But rather than customary handshakes, Yadav and his teammates turned and left the field, a mute statement that was louder than the win.
Speaking to the broadcaster, Yadav dedicated the victory to the Armed Forces in light of the Pahalgham incident.
“We stand with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack. We share our condolences and we want to dedicate this win to the Armed Forces,” said the captain.
This was the first IND vs PAK match since the April Pahalgam attack that killed security personnel. After the event, India kicked off Operation Sindoor in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir which included a short period of hostilities. In this context, the match never would have been just about cricket.
No Handshakes, Just Silence
There was no greeting at the toss by either Yadav or the Pakistan captain, Salman Agha. Later, Yadav said he had made the decision that Friday morning not to shake hands but left it up to his teammates. “BCCI and the government were in agreement to play the game, so only the game was on our minds at that time. The decision (not shake hands) was made later,” he said at the post-match press conference.
The atmosphere at the ground matched the political discord, as both sides warmed up almost side by side, but purposely avoiding direct contact or eye contact. The only physical contact came when Mohammed Nawaz passed Yadav on what was an accidental disposal after getting the ball. Neither of them said sorry.
Dominating Performance, Over Shadowed
As India’s spin trio, not trifecta, dismissed Pakistan for 127, Abhishek Sharma’s uproarious start made the chase more of a formality. Yet, all the cricketing details of the day were eclipsed by the gesture that never was, the handshake.
While fans will remember high-profile, intense IND vs PAK moments—like Venkatesh Prasad’s sizzling send-off or Javed Miandad’s iconic hop—this match will perhaps only be defined by its silence.
Sports Beyond Sports
As Salman Agha shouted at his teammates to fight, I was aware that both side’s players were influenced by their countries’ feelings. “For once,” it wasn’t merely a match between Pakistan and India, nor was it just competition of skills. It was solidarity, memory, and feeling that existed beyond the line of play.
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