As anticipation builds for another fiery India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav has urged his teammates to shut out the noise and focus solely on their game.
The tournament has been overshadowed by heated headlines following the rivals’ previous encounter, which was their first meeting since the military conflict earlier this year. India secured a convincing seven-wicket win in that Group A match, but the victory was followed by controversy after Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
Suryakumar dedicated that victory to India’s armed forces, while other teammates echoed his sentiments on social media. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, lodged a strong protest, demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft over what they deemed a breach of the code of conduct.
At a press conference in Lahore, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi—accompanied by former chiefs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi—confirmed that Pycroft had issued a formal apology to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, the coach, and the team manager, easing tensions slightly but not silencing the controversy.
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With the spotlight still firmly on off-field disputes, Suryakumar gave his players some straightforward advice on handling outside pressure. “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep,” he said. “It’s easy to say, but sometimes difficult. It’s on you, what you want to listen to, what you want to have in your mind. If you want to succeed in this tournament, you have to cut out the noise.”
The skipper emphasized that past results wouldn’t matter in Sunday’s Super Four game. “It doesn’t give us an edge that we beat them once. We have to start from scratch,” he stressed.
When asked about the long-standing rivalry, Suryakumar took a lighter approach. “I don’t know what kind of rivalry you’re talking about,” he laughed. “When I walk onto the ground and see the stadium full, I tell the boys it’s time for entertainment. People have come to watch, so we should give them a good brand of cricket.”
When questioned about “other things” that India did in the last game—hinting at the handshake controversy—Suryakumar brushed it off with a smile: “By other things, you mean we bowled well, isn’t it?”
With both sides gearing up for what promises to be another high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash, Suryakumar underlined the importance of staying disciplined and consistent. “We take it one game at a time. Our preparation has been strong, and we’re just focusing on playing our best cricket,” he concluded.
