India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team chose not to shake hands with Pakistan players following their 7-wicket victory in the Asia Cup 2025 clash on Sunday, September 14. Pakistan coach Mike Hesson later expressed disappointment, saying his team was ready to shake hands but felt let down when the gesture was not returned.
SKY Explains India’s Stance
At the end of the match, Suryakumar Yadav hit a six to complete the chase. He shook hands only with his batting partner, Shivam Dube, and then walked straight off the field. The Pakistani players, lined up to shake hands with Indian players and support staff, were left waiting as the Indian team headed to the dressing room.
Suryakumar Yadav explained the team’s stance at the post-match press conference. He said, “Our government and BCCI, we were aligned. Together, we came here, we took a call and I feel we came here just to play the game. And we gave the proper reply. See how it is, I feel a few things in life are above sportsman spirit.”
It is worth noting that SKY and Pakistan captain Salman Agha did not shake hands at the toss either.
🚨 SURYA KUMAR YADAV BANGER IN POST MATCH PRESENTATION 🎤
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) September 14, 2025
Surya said,, "we stand with the families of Pahalgam victims, we express our solidarity and are thankful of our armed forces".#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/HiH9645WSH
Pakistan Coach Voices Disappointment
Mike Hesson expressed his dissatisfaction with the gesture. He said India’s decision not to shake hands influenced Agha’s absence from the post-match presentation.
He added, “I think it’s just the flow and effect of the fact that we were obviously keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match. That didn’t happen. That was pretty much the end of it. We were disappointed in the way we played, but we were certainly willing to shake hands. It was a disappointing way for the match to end.”
India Dominates on the Field
On the field, India outplayed Pakistan comfortably. Birthday boy Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and vice-captain Shubman Gill also paid tribute in the same way.
Before the match, India’s decision to play Pakistan generated a lot of debate and criticism. Some sections even called for a boycott of the match.
BCCI Stands by Its Decision
Despite public backlash, the BCCI allowed the game to go ahead as planned. The board referred to the Indian government’s policy, which permits teams to participate in multi-nation tournaments even if they involve countries with strained relations.
Meanwhile, the match still drew significant attention. Fans filled the stadium and many more tuned in online to watch the high-profile clash.