The atmosphere after India’s exhilarating five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final was charged with joy, yet the post-match celebrations were anything but conventional. In an unprecedented move, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi conspicuously withheld the trophy, leaving India’s victorious team without silverware to hoist. Undeterred, captain Suryakumar Yadav took matters into his own hands, transforming the challenging situation into an unforgettable moment of defiance and spirit.
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Yadav’s performance wasn’t just a tribute; it was a carefully orchestrated mimicry of Rohit Sharma’s iconic post-victory stride from India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win, itself a nod to Lionel Messi’s legendary FIFA World Cup celebration. The mastermind behind this viral moment? None other than India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, whose on-field gestures vividly captured him instructing Suryakumar on how to execute the memorable walk.
The team’s jubilant celebrations were spearheaded by Tilak Varma, whose unbeaten 69 was a cornerstone of the victory. He received crucial support from Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson. India’s successful chase was built on two pivotal partnerships:
Initially, Varma and Samson forged a crucial 57-run stand that steadied the innings. This was followed by a pivotal 60-run partnership between Varma and Dube, which decisively shifted momentum in India’s favor. Ultimately, Rinku Singh delivered the winning boundary—the sole ball he faced in the entire tournament—securing India’s ninth Asia Cup triumph across all formats and their second T20 Asia Cup title.
Despite attempts by the ACC to conduct a formal trophy presentation, Mohsin Naqvi’s steadfast refusal to relinquish the trophy resulted in a contentious hour-long deadlock. The Indian team stood firm in their refusal to accept the prize under such conditions, leading to its eventual retrieval by the organizers. In this atmosphere, Yadav’s reenactment of Rohit’s celebrated walk transcended mere imitation, evolving into a powerful, symbolic act of triumph and team unity, underscoring their victory in spirit even without the physical trophy.
This Asia Cup 2025 victory not only marked India’s ninth title across One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals but also their second T20I championship. It powerfully underscored the team’s incredible resilience and their capacity to find joy and celebrate success, even when faced with significant controversy.
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