"What rivalry": Suryakumar Yadav shrugs off hype around India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash
The stage is set for another high-stakes showdown between arch-rivals in the UAE. India has arrived in the Super 4s unbeaten, with dominant wins in Group A. Pakistan, meanwhile, has secured a place in the next phase after a rather dramatic run in the group stage. The top two teams from Group A are now gearing up for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash at the Asia Cup 2025. With the handshake row still fresh, the hype around the Super 4 encounter has surged significantly. However, the chatter around the controversy is the last thing on India’s mind, as reflected in the reaction of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Suryakumar Yadav reacts to the handshake row ahead of India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash at Asia Cup 2025
The group-stage India vs Pakistan encounter highlighted the clear gulf between the two teams’ standings. The Men in Blue imposed sheer dominance, clinching a seven-wicket win over the arch-rivals in Dubai. However, the one-sided showdown was not without drama. The Indian skipper refused to shake hands with Salman Ali Agha at the toss. Moreover, the team also did not engage in the customary post-match handshakes, leading to the now-infamous 'handshake row.'
Pakistan was left deeply offended as Salman Agha, the skipper, led the post-match presentation in protest. Taking the controversy a step further, the PCB subsequently demanded Andy Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup 2025. A tussle followed, with the ICC rejecting the PCB’s request, and Pakistan, in turn, threatening to pull out of the tournament. Pakistan’s adamant stance continued up to the crucial fixture against UAE, where a meeting between Pycroft and PCB representatives delayed the Pakistan vs UAE clash.
The controversy that started with the handshake row is far from over. While Pakistan claimed that Pycroft apologised, the ICC has refuted the PCB’s claims. Moreover, the ICC, the apex council, is looking to sanction the PCB’s conduct during the meeting for the misuse of the PMOA and for filming the meeting. The PCB has refused to step back, retorting against the ICC and justifying its actions. Meanwhile, as the PCB stretches the issue, the Men in Green are gearing up for the India vs Pakistan Super 4 showdown.
In the group-stage clash, India made a strong statement, exiting the scene quickly while Pakistan stirred the pot. Now, as the proceedings move to the next stage, Suryakumar Yadav was asked about reviving the rivalry. However, the Indian skipper was quick to downplay the hype around the supposed “arch-rivalry.” Moreover, SKY humorously dismissed the query about whether India’s stance on interacting with Pakistan players and engaging in customary handshakes will continue in the next encounter.
"What other things are you talking about? (laughs). You are talking about our performance with the ball? It is a good contest between bat and ball. The whole stadium is packed to the rafters. The best thing is to put your best foot forward and do the best for your country," he added.
"I feel our preparation has been really good leading into the tournament. We have also had three good games, so we are actually focusing on what we can do best. As I said at the toss as well, we want to follow all the good habits that we have been doing from the last 2-3 games. We take it one game at a time, but as you said, it doesn't give us an edge that we have played them once; we had a good game. But we have to start from scratch. Whoever plays well will win," he further explained.
