The much-anticipated Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan ended with India securing a seven-wicket victory in Dubai on Sunday, but the match carried a tone far heavier than just cricket.

It was the first time the two nations faced each other on the field since a deadly military conflict earlier this year, and the shadows of violence, grief, and loss were never far from the game.Indian spinners, led by Kuldeep Yadav with his brilliant 3-18 spell, restricted Pakistan to a modest 127-9. Despite a late fightback from Shaheen Afridi, who played a spirited unbeaten cameo of 33, Pakistan’s innings struggled for stability.

In reply, India chased down the target with ease, thanks to captain Suryakumar Yadav’s steady 47 not out, which he poignantly dedicated to the victims and armed forces affected by the Pahalgam attack in April.

The match, however, reflected the strained relations off the field too.

After hitting the winning six, Indian players walked off without exchanging the customary handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, a gesture that underscored the emotional scars left behind by recent hostilities.

Pakistan’s skipper did not appear for the post-match ceremony, and coach Mike Hesson admitted the team had expected a sporting handshake that never came.

Though the stands were only partly filled, the match symbolized how sport, often celebrated as a bridge between divided people, continues to be overshadowed by political and humanitarian crises.

More than 70 lives were lost in the May clashes, and families on both sides of the border continue to bear the pain.

As cricket fans celebrated India’s progression towards the Super Fours, the bigger picture remained somber — a reminder that victories on the pitch can never erase the human losses off it.