KEY POINTS
- No handshakes, no spirit – Yadav refused customary greetings with Pakistan’s captain in all three matches.
- Politics at the podium – He twice politicised India’s wins, drawing ICC fines and public criticism.
- Controversial appeal denied – His obstructing-the-field appeal against Agha was labelled unsporting.
- Trophy-less champions – Yadav skipped the ceremony, and the team posed with an imaginary trophy.
ISLAMABAD: Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is hailed as one of the most explosive modern-day batters, a 360-degree shot-maker who’s been likened to AB de Villiers for his innovation and versatility.
His T20I numbers are nothing short of dazzling: 90 matches, 2670 runs, strike rate 164.20, 4 centuries, and 21 fifties.
But in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025, it wasn’t just his bat doing the talking; it was his behaviour that stole the spotlight, and not for the right reasons.
In a tournament that India won, Yadav’s conduct raised uncomfortable questions about sportsmanship, the spirit of the game, and the injection of politics into cricket.
No Handshake, No Spirit
Across all three high-voltage India–Pakistan clashes (Sept 14, 21, and the final on Sept 28), Suryakumar repeatedly refused to shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha, both at the toss and post-match.
What began as a subtle cold shoulder snowballed into an unmistakable message of animosity. While political tension between the two nations has always lingered in the background, the gentleman’s game has traditionally offered a break from hostility. Not this time.
Turning the Mic Into a Megaphone
In his post-match press conferences, Yadav dedicated India’s first win to the victims of the Pahalgam incident, a move widely viewed as a politicization of cricket. His statement, perceived as a jab at Pakistan, breached the ICC’s code of conduct.
The governing body fined him 30% of his match fee, citing inappropriate use of political messaging during an international tournament.
Yet, after India’s title win in the final, he did it again, this time stubbornly dedicating the victory to the Indian Army.
While patriotism is not new in sports, critics argued that weaponising cricket for political symbolism undermines the game’s neutrality and its power to build bridges.
Obstruction Appeal That Backfired
During the final, Yadav’s competitive zeal took another controversial turn. When Salman Ali Agha was hit by the ball during a second run and signaled his intention not to take a third run, Yadav still appealed for “obstructing the field”, a rare and contentious form of dismissal.
The third umpire reviewed the footage and denied the appeal, ruling no intent from Agha. But the incident drew sharp criticism online, with many fans and former players calling the appeal “petty”, “unsporting”, and “driven more by hostility than competitiveness.”
Where’s the Trophy?
As if the controversies weren’t enough, Yadav did not attend the post-match trophy ceremony, refusing to receive the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The team instead posed with a symbolic gesture, holding their hands as if clutching an invisible trophy (only being ridiculed on social media), while the real Asia Cup trophy was sent back to the ACC office.
Since then, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla has formally requested the trophy be handed over, but Naqvi has replied sharply: “If India wants the trophy, let the captain come and collect it.”
Win on Paper, Loss in Spirit?
While India clinched the title, the bigger loss may be to the spirit of cricket itself. From handshake snubs to politicized pressers and petty on-field antics, Yadav’s behaviour has sparked widespread criticism, even from within India’s own cricketing circles.
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev urged players to “let the politicians do their job” and reminded cricketers to uphold the sanctity of the game.
As one trending social media post put it: “You can win the match and still lose the game, when you lose the soul of sportsmanship.”
