In a pre-match press conference ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav delivered a witty reply to a reporter’s question about repeating the “no-handshake” act from the last match against Pakistan.
When asked if the team would “do the same as in the previous game,” an obvious reference to the lack of a customary post-match handshake, Yadav feigned ignorance and chose to focus on the team’s on-field performance.
“Oh, you mean good performance with the ball? Yes, definitely. There’s a good combination of performance with both bat and ball,” he replied, expertly sidestepping the controversial topic.
The “no-handshake” incident from the previous match had snowballed into a major row, with Pakistan reportedly threatening a pullout. Suryakumar’s post-match dedication of the win to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the Indian Armed Forces was widely reported to have caused a “meltdown” across the border, adding a layer of tension to the upcoming high-voltage game.
Yadav also shared his strategy for “shutting outside noise” before a crunch game. He stated that the best way is to “close your room, switch off your phone and sleep,” but acknowledged that it’s “easier said than done.” He advised his teammates to be discerning, taking only the good advice from the public chatter and shutting out the rest to stay focused on the game.