Team India clinched a spectacular five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. However, the post-match presentation ceremony spiraled into chaos, notably missing the coveted trophy. Undeterred, the Indian squad took to social media, transforming the unusual situation into a series of playful jabs and celebratory posts.
The drama began when Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)—who also holds the position of Pakistan’s interior minister—arrived to present the trophy and medals. In a significant move, the Indian team declined to accept the awards from him.
Subsequently, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issued a strong statement: “Our decision not to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, representing a nation currently in disagreement with ours, was a deliberate stance. However, this does not grant him the right to abscond with the trophy and medals. This act is profoundly unfortunate and unsportsmanlike. We expect the immediate return of the trophy and medals to India and intend to lodge a formal and serious protest at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai this November.” The impasse consequently delayed the presentation for more than an hour. Meanwhile, the Pakistan team accepted their medals, but their captain, Salman Ali Agha, reportedly cast aside the runners-up cheque in frustration.
Despite the physical trophy’s absence, the Indian team found innovative ways to celebrate on the field. Players transformed the void into a memorable spectacle. Suryakumar Yadav, for instance, humorously re-enacted Rohit Sharma’s iconic 2024 T20 World Cup winning walk, complete with an imaginary trophy in hand.
Hardik Pandya also struck his signature trophy celebration pose, yet without the actual silverware. Many players went further, sharing photos on social media where edited trophies were humorously Photoshopped into their hands, accompanied by witty captions.
Adding to the online banter, Arshdeep Singh playfully taunted Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. He posted replays of his own wicket-taking celebrations, including the dismissal of Sanju Samson, turning it into a lighthearted social media jab.
The path to victory was not easy. Chasing a target of 147, India found themselves in a precarious position at 20/3 during the powerplay. However, a resilient, unbeaten knock of 69 runs off 53 balls from Tilak Varma, coupled with Shivam Dube’s quickfire 33 off 22 deliveries, steered the team to a thrilling victory with just two balls to spare.
The winning boundary was struck by Rinku Singh, sealing India’s triumph. Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s batting lineup had faltered dramatically, collapsing from a strong position of 113/1 to being all out for 146, largely due to Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive spell of 4 wickets for 30 runs.
Ultimately, even without a physical trophy in hand, the Indian players transformed the moment into a highly visible and shared celebration, demonstrating that neither the PCB nor the ACC could diminish their victorious spirit.
Fans across social media enthusiastically praised the team’s creativity, humor, and unwavering team spirit. India’s ninth Asia Cup triumph became a widely celebrated event, albeit one uniquely marked by its surrounding controversy.