Suryakumar Yadav Hints at India-Pakistan Separation in Asia Cup After Big Statement

 Udaipur, Sept 22, 2025: The Indian team defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the Asia Cup Super Four. Chasing a target of 172 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, Team India reached the target in 18.5 overs for the loss of four wickets. This is Pakistan’s second loss to India in the tournament. It is also notable that since India lost to Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022, India has won seven consecutive international matches against Pakistan.

India - Pakistan Rivalry No Longer Relevant

In the post-match press conference, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said that the India-Pakistan match is no longer a rivalry. When asked if Pakistan had improved compared to the previous match, he said, "I think we should stop asking this question about the rivalry." He added, "If two teams play 15-20 matches and the score is 7-7 or one is leading 8-7, that is good cricket and a rivalry. When one team is leading 13-0 or 10-1, I don't know the exact numbers, but it is no longer a rivalry."

It is important to note that India and Pakistan no longer play bilateral series due to tensions between the two countries. They now meet only in ICC or FICCI events. In major tournaments, the teams are often grouped together because of their rivalry to earn more revenue. However, Surya’s statement shows that the rivalry is no longer there, meaning grouping them together is not needed.

Abhishek Sharma Shines

Talking about Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar said his off-field practice is key to his success. "He never skips practice. Even on days he doesn’t feel like batting, he always does something to improve. Hard work never goes in vain. I believe God has plans for those who keep working hard," he said.

Chasing India’s target of 172, Abhishek Sharma scored 74 runs in 39 balls, hitting 6 fours and 5 sixes. For this, he was named Player of the Match. He shared a 105-run opening partnership in 10 overs with Shubman Gill (47 off 28 balls), which helped India take the lead in the match.