India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: Ryan ten Doeschate clears the air over Abhishek Sharma vs Haris Rauf altercation
During the high-octane India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash, Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf sparked controversy with provocative on-field gestures directed at Indian fans. While fielding near the boundary, Rauf made a “6-0” hand signal and mimicked shooting down planes — a gesture widely interpreted as a reference to Pakistan’s unverified claims of downing six Indian fighter jets during a military conflict after Operation Sindoor. The antics drew sharp reactions on social media and among fans, igniting a fresh wave of tension during the already emotionally charged match.
Ryan ten Doeschate comes straight on the India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash of Asia Cup 2025
In response to the incident, Indian cricket team assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate addressed the media and broke his silence. Instead of escalating the situation, Doeschate dismissed Rauf’s actions as irrelevant to the Indian team. “It’s not our concern,” he stated firmly, shifting focus back to the game itself. He praised the Indian players for their composure and sportsmanship, despite the provocation. More importantly, he lauded the team’s fiery performance with the bat, stating that the Indian batting lineup was “on fire” throughout the contest. His calm and composed response highlighted India’s professionalism and determination to stay focused on cricket rather than controversy.
"I did see some of the things Haris did and that's not our concern. Like I said earlier, we're really proud of how our guys carried themselves. They fought fire with their bats on the field. I'm sure other teams have issues with some of the things we've done but from our side, we're delighted with how our guys have carried themselves in this tournament," said India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
Ryan Ten Doeschate also addressed the verbal exchanges between Indian batters and Pakistan’s pacers during the intense Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash. The assistant coach downplayed the war of words, emphasizing that the team chose to let their performance speak instead. He particularly praised young openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill for their mature and composed response on the field. Rather than engaging in sledging, the duo delivered a strong statement with the bat, stitching together a brilliant 105-run partnership for the opening wicket. Their stand laid a solid foundation for India’s run chase and set the tone early in the innings. Doeschate lauded their ability to remain focused under pressure and said their performance was the perfect answer to the on-field provocations.
"I will say given the situation you can see why guys are behaving and what they're trying to portray but we were very focused on how we wanted to behave. I think we stuck to the cricket really well," Doeschate added.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is confident that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be fully prepared to feature in the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies once the Asia Cup 2025 concludes. Speaking to the media during the Super 4 stage of the tournament, Doeschate expressed optimism about Bumrah’s workload and form, stating that the ongoing tournament is playing a key role in getting him match-ready for red-ball cricket.
According to Doeschate, Bumrah is expected to bowl over 24 overs throughout the Asia Cup, which he believes will be sufficient to bring the pacer into rhythm for the longer format. "By the time the Asia Cup ends, Bumrah will have enough overs under his belt. He’s gradually building up, and this tournament is a great platform for that,” he said. Bumrah, who recently returned to international cricket after a lengthy injury layoff, has already shown signs of returning to peak form with his pace and accuracy.
