Following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday, September 28, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that it was unique to receive appreciation from Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shortly following the triumph, the Prime Minister thanked the team, referencing Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the recent terror assaults in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
Outcome is the same – India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
Suryakumar Yadav responded to the message by saying that it seemed as though the prime minister had personally entered the pitch. The celebrations back home, he noted, provided even greater satisfaction to the team’s accomplishment.
“When the nation’s leader bats first, it feels good; it’s like he took the strike and scored runs.” It was wonderful to watch, and the players will undoubtedly play freely when Sir is in front of them. The fact that the entire nation is celebrating is what matters most.
According to India Today, Suryakumar Yadav stated, “It will feel good to return to India, and we will get more inspiration and motivation to do well.”
There were strong political overtones during India’s participation in the continental event. Tensions increased with each of the team’s three meetings with its bitter rivals. The Men in Blue skipped the traditional handshake with their Pakistani colleagues as a show of support for the armed forces conducting Operation Sindoor and solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attacks. The opposition camp criticised this manoeuvre, which took a lot of attention away from the cricket pitch.
Following the final, the controversy grew when Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), refused to collect the trophy from India. An already highly tense interaction was further heightened by the symbolic snub. With the win, India further cemented their supremacy in Asian cricket and, with encouragement and full energy on the pitch, they now shift their attention to next international assignments.
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