India’s men’s captain Suryakumar Yadav downplayed the notion of an India-Pakistan cricket rivalry after his side defeated Pakistan by six wickets in their Asia Cup Super Four clash on Sunday. The victory, India’s second over Pakistan in the tournament, strengthened their dominance in T20 head-to-heads with an 11-3 record, along with one tied game. While Pakistan still lead overall across formats with 88 wins to India’s 79, the recent streak tilted the T20 balance heavily in India’s favor.
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Suryakumar told reporters that the numbers no longer reflect a rivalry. “According to me, if two teams play 15-20 matches and if it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry. But 13-0, 10-1. I don’t know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore,” he said.
The clash, staged amid the backdrop of strained political ties between the two nations following their military conflict in May, carried tension beyond cricket. For the second time in the tournament, players from both sides refrained from shaking hands, further highlighting the frosty atmosphere.
India, despite the victory, showed lapses in the field, dropping four catches. Suryakumar acknowledged the issue but insisted it was being handled internally. “The fielding coach has sent an email to the boys, who had butter fingers, to appear before him at his office,” he remarked with a mix of seriousness and humor. “But this happens, it is a part of the game. I am okay with it because it happened in the first game itself, and we have more crucial games to go.”
India, the defending champions, will next face Bangladesh on Wednesday in Dubai as they look to secure a spot in the final. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will advance to the September 28 final, making each game decisive. Pakistan, meanwhile, will attempt to bounce back in their next fixture against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, needing a win to keep their hopes alive.
The rivalry debate aside, matches between India and Pakistan continue to command global attention, drawing massive viewership and sparking passionate discussions among fans. Yet, as Suryakumar’s remarks suggest, India’s consistency in recent T20 clashes has given the encounters a one-sided character. For Pakistan, finding form and rhythm before the decisive stages of the tournament remains crucial if they are to shift the balance and reignite the contest.
