Following India's commanding 7-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 held in Dubai, sentiments of national pride and solidarity resonated strongly within the Indian camp. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir and fellow teammate Shubman Gill, dedicated the triumph to the Indian armed forces and the victims of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
The match, which took place on September 14, 2025, held significant weight as it was the first encounter between the two nations on a cricket field since the intense cross-border conflict in May. The political undertones were palpable, with many calling for a boycott of the match in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
In a post-match presentation, Suryakumar Yadav expressed his solidarity with the victims and their families, stating, "We stand by with the victims of the families of Pahalgam terror attack and we express our solidarity". He further emphasized the team's dedication to the armed forces, adding, "We want to dedicate today's win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery and hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground, whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile".
Echoing similar sentiments, Gautam Gambhir, speaking to broadcasters after the match, thanked the Indian armed forces for successfully executing "Operation Sindoor". He stated, "As a team, we wanted to show our solidarity towards the victims of all the families in the Pahalgam terror attack, and more importantly we want to thank the armed forces for their successful operation Sindoor".
Shubman Gill, while not explicitly quoted with similar statements in available news reports, was part of the team that stood in solidarity. He contributed with a score of 10 runs before getting stumped. After India's victory against UAE, Gill posted on social media "Step one".
The Indian team's gesture of dedicating their victory to the armed forces and the Pahalgam victims was widely appreciated, with many acknowledging the deeper significance of the win beyond the realm of cricket.
India's performance in the match was dominant from the start. Pakistan, after winning the toss and electing to bat, were restricted to a modest 127/9 in their 20 overs. The Indian bowling attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Axar Patel (2/18), stifled the Pakistan batsmen, preventing them from building any significant momentum. In response, the Indian batsmen chased down the target with ease, reaching 129/3 in just 15.5 overs. Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 47, guiding his team to victory.
The Asia Cup 2025 is being held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, with matches played in the T20I format. The tournament features eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. India, being the defending champions of 2023, are looking strong in the tournament.
