India captain Suryakumar Yadav summed up the bizarre scenes that unfolded after his team’s triumph at the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2025 final. He led the Men in Blue to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan on Sunday, September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, securing India’s ninth title in the history of the continental event.
According to him, the Indian players waited for nearly an hour after refusing to accept the trophy from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister. In the end, India celebrated their historic win without the trophy. There had been speculation that the winners refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi following instructions from the BCCI or government officials. However, the Indian captain clarified that it was a team decision made on the ground.
“We didn’t close the door and sit inside the dressing room. We didn’t make anyone wait for the presentation ceremony. Trophy leke bhaag gaye woh (They ran away with the trophy). That’s what I saw. I don’t know, some people were making a video of us, but we were standing. We didn’t go inside,” Suryakumar said as quoted by The Indian Express.
“First of all, let me make it clear, no one from the Government or the BCCI told us anything throughout the tournament that if someone gives a trophy, we won’t take it. We took that decision on our own on the ground. They (ACC officials) were standing there on the stage and we were standing below. I saw them talking on stage and I don’t know the details of their chat. Some in the crowd started booing. And then we saw someone who was their representative taking the trophy and running away,” the captain added.
The top-order batter added that the players did not even go into the dressing room to retrieve their phones immediately after the match, instead, it was the team’s support staff and masseur who brought the phones out to the field. At the end of the tournament, during the post-match press conference, Suryakumar announced that he would be donating his entire Asia Cup match fees to the Indian Armed Forces.
“Everyone was enjoying the moment on the ground. The entire team was celebrating those who got the awards like Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma. They were all standing for them, clapping, whistling. That’s the culture of our team,” Suryakumar said.
“When I went to the dressing room after we won, I was sitting there. A lot was going on in my mind on what I can do. I spoke to a friend who suggested that I can do this (donate the money). So I said okay. I think it’s a perfect moment also. And I have love for my country. So if it’s a small bit and if I can do it, then why not. It comes from inside me. I will definitely do as much as I can whenever I get the opportunity. People put so much effort everywhere. This is our bit, which is nothing actually. People who do so much, who do it selflessly, about whom no one knows,” the Mumbai-born added.
India faced Pakistan three times in the tournament and emerged victorious on each occasion, including the final. In the first two encounters, opener Abhishek Sharma played a starring role, while the final saw spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy restrict Pakistan to 146 runs. India’s chase was anchored by Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson, who guided the team to a five-wicket victory with two balls to spare.
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