Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav has played down the idea of an India vs Pakistan rivalry after his team secured yet another victory against their arch-rivals.
India beat Pakistan by six wickets in the 14th match of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The win extended India’s unbeaten streak against Pakistan in men’s internationals to seven, with their last defeat coming in the 2022 Asia Cup.
After the match, Suryakumar Yadav was asked about Pakistan’s performance. He quickly dismissed the long-running narrative of rivalry between the two teams. According to him, a true rivalry requires balance in results.
“If two teams play 15–20 games and it’s 7-7 or 8-7, that’s a rivalry,” he said. “But 13-0, 10-1… I don’t know the exact numbers. This is not a rivalry anymore. We simply played better cricket.”
He also pointed out what he believed was the turning point of the game. Pakistan had reached 91 for 1 after 10 overs, their best T20I halfway score against India. However, India’s bowlers shifted the momentum soon after.
“The game changed after the first drinks break,” Suryakumar Yadav explained. “The bowlers adjusted their lengths, spinners bowled well, and Shivam Dube’s spell was crucial.”
Dube finished with 2 for 33 in his full quota of overs, dismissing Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan. His effort proved vital, especially on a day when Jasprit Bumrah struggled and conceded 45 runs without a wicket. India’s spinners also tightened control, restricting Pakistan to only 38 runs between overs 10 and 17.
Later, India’s batting sealed the result. Abhishek Sharma smashed 74 off 39 balls, while Shubman Gill added 47 off 28, ensuring a comfortable chase.
The victory highlighted India’s dominance in recent encounters, while Suryakumar Yadav’s remarks underlined the growing one-sided nature of the contests.
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