It should’ve been a perfect evening for Indian cricket. An unbeaten campaign. Three wins over Pakistan, including a nerve-wracking final. And yet, there was no trophy-lifting moment, no handshakes with officials, and no smiling photos under confetti. Instead, the biggest noise came from what didn’t happen and what India captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to do in the aftermath.
Post-match, the Indian team flat-out refused to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi, who also heads the PCB, was reportedly kept waiting, and the presentation never happened. The reasons weren’t officially stated, but the tension had been building all tournament. A series of political overtones, uneven scheduling calls, and ACC’s quiet handling of off-field matters had already left a sour taste.
Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning take
Still, India did all their talking with the bat and ball. They remained unbeaten and did something rare by beat Pakistan three times in the same tournament. The final was a tight, high-pressure affair, but India pulled through. It should’ve ended in celebration. Instead, the visuals that followed were quiet, almost awkward. The players walked off with medals, but no trophy in sight. And Suryakumar, standing calmly at the press conference, dropped a line that no one saw coming.
“As a gesture, I want to donate my match fees from all the games in this tournament to the Indian Army,” he said. “I don’t know if people will call it controversial, but for me, it’s the right thing to do.”
Suryakumar’s decision comes days after he had 30% of his match fee docked for dedicating India’s first win over Pakistan to the armed forces. The ICC took action, citing political interference, and the matter snowballed into a mini-controversy. But even with that penalty hanging over him, SKY didn’t back down. If anything, he doubled down. No drama. No political slogan. Just money quietly moved from match earnings to a cause he clearly believes in, especially after the Operation Sindoor.
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