The cricketing world is buzzing with anticipation as India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, seems to be intentionally avoiding any direct mention of arch-rivals Pakistan. This intriguing stance came after India’s narrow 21-run triumph over Oman in their final Group A match of the Asia Cup 2025, securing their spot at the top and setting up a thrilling Super 4 encounter against Pakistan this Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.
During the post-match presentation, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar posed a direct question to Suryakumar about the looming clash. The Indian skipper’s terse, four-word response – “All set for Super Four” – spoke volumes, reinforcing the perception that the team is deliberately sidestepping public acknowledgment of their historic opponents.
This isn’t the first time Suryakumar has drawn attention for his actions concerning Pakistan. A previous incident during their group-stage match in Dubai saw him controversially refuse to shake hands after India’s seven-wicket victory. That event even led to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodging a complaint with the ICC, seeking the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging a breach of the spirit of cricket. At the time, Suryakumar dedicated that win to the Indian Armed Forces, expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, adding another layer of intensity to the rivalry.
Reflecting on Oman’s spirited performance, Suryakumar praised them, stating, “Oman played an unbelievable brand of cricket. I knew with their coach, Sulu sir (Sulakshan Kulkarni), there would be khadoosness. It was amazing; I really enjoyed watching them bat.” He also light-heartedly touched upon his batting order, joking, “Definitely I’ll try from next game (about batting higher than No.11).” He acknowledged the challenging conditions and the difficulty for players like Arshdeep and Harshit coming into play suddenly in such humidity, adding, “Unfortunate how he got out but you can’t keep him away from the game (referring to Hardik Pandya). All set for Super Fours.”
As the monumental India-Pakistan Super 4 match draws closer, Suryakumar Yadav’s persistent avoidance of uttering ‘Pakistan’ continues to amplify the existing tensions, guaranteeing global attention for Sunday’s high-stakes cricket battle.