Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav claimed that he was so proud to get the appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the triumph of Indian team in Asia Cup 2025 over Pakistan in Dubai on September 28. In the immediate aftermath of the match the Prime Minister congratulated the players likening their victory to the Operation Sindoor, the Indian response to the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Suryakumar told him that the message had been like the Prime Minister being on the field with them. He said that the victory was even more unique to the whole team when he witnessed the happiness and festivities around the country.
“It feels good when the country’s leader himself bats on the front foot; it feels like he took the strike and scored runs. It was great to see, and when sir is standing in front, then definitely the players will play freely. The most important thing is that the whole country is celebrating. When we go back (to India), it will feel good, and we will get more inspiration and motivation to do well,” said Suryakumar as quoted by India Today.
India’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign carried a strong political backdrop, as they faced Pakistan three times with emotions running high. As a mark of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam attacks and to support the armed forces in Operation Sindoor, the Indian players skipped the traditional handshake with their rivals, a move that drew criticism from the opposition.
The play did not end with the final as India had turned down the trophy awarded by ACC Chairman and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi. This political act supplemented this tinged air, and at the cricketing level, the victory of India strengthened their hold on Asian cricket as they now look forward to their next series with confidence.
