Unplug and Recharge: Suryakumar Yadav’s Pre-Match Ritual for India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, avoided mentioning “Pakistan” during a 12-minute press conference before his team’s highly anticipated Asia Cup Super-Four match on Sunday in Dubai.

Following the handshake controversy after India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the group stage the previous Sunday, interest in the match has intensified. Speculation revolves around whether Suryakumar and his team will continue to avoid interacting with their Pakistani counterparts before or after the game.

The heightened attention on the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry in this Asia Cup is notable, especially after some Indians called for a boycott following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

Suryakumar acknowledged that ignoring external distractions in such circumstances is challenging but shared his strategy: “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep,” he said with a chuckle.

He further elaborated, “While it’s easy to suggest, it’s difficult in practice because you meet friends, go out for dinner, and there are players who enjoy following these things. It’s tough, but ultimately, it depends on what you choose to focus on. Going forward, we need to block out a lot of external noise. I’ve communicated this to the team.”

After avoiding a question about whether India would maintain their approach from the previous match against Pakistan, Suryakumar downplayed the rivalry with a smile. “I’m not sure what rivalry you’re referring to. When I see a packed stadium, I tell my team, ‘Chalo bhai log, entertainment ka time aa gaya hai,'” he grinned.

Despite India’s decisive victory over Pakistan previously, Suryakumar cautioned against complacency, especially after Friday’s challenging match against Oman in the final league phase game.

He emphasized, “It doesn’t give us an edge just because we played them once and did well. We need to start strong from the beginning,” Suryakumar warned.

Concluding with a message to the fans, the 35-year-old captain urged, “The country always supports us in every game. Please continue to support us in this match as well.”

Published on September 20, 2025.