Dubai: India captain Suryakumar Yadav has set the cricketing world buzzing with his blunt assessment of the India–Pakistan equation, declaring that the once-feared rivalry no longer carries the edge it once did. After leading India to yet another convincing win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash in Dubai on Sunday night, Suryakumar openly urged journalists and fans to stop romanticising the contest as a “rivalry,” pointing to the increasingly lopsided head-to-head record between the two teams.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Suryakumar was asked a routine question by a senior Pakistani journalist about Pakistan’s improved performance compared to their heavy defeat in the group stage. Instead of responding directly, the Indian skipper offered a larger observation. “Sir, my request is that we should now stop calling India vs Pakistan matches a rivalry,” he said with a disarming smile. “According to me, if two teams play 15–20 matches and the scoreline is 7–7 or 8–7, then that’s a rivalry. But when it’s 13-0, 12-3, 10-1… I don’t know the exact stats, but this is not a rivalry anymore. Standards and rivalry are the same thing. If there is no contest, how can you call it a rivalry?” His comments left the packed media room stunned and quickly became the headline of the night.
The numbers back Suryakumar argument. India have now beaten Pakistan in seven consecutive men’s internationals since their last loss at the 2022 Asia Cup. In T20Is specifically, India dominate with 12 wins in 15 matches, while in ICC events, India lead the head-to-head 7–1. Over the last 15 years across formats, India have won 23 of their 31 meetings with Pakistan, a streak that underscores a clear gulf in quality. Pakistan still hold an overall lead in total internationals—88 wins to India’s 78 across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is—but the momentum in the modern era belongs firmly to India, particularly in the shorter formats.
On the field, Sunday’s Super 4 clash perfectly illustrated the imbalance. Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, started brightly and raced to 91 for 1 at the halfway mark, their best ten-over score against India in T20Is. But India’s bowlers, led by the unlikely hero Shivam Dube, wrested back control after the drinks break. Dube, often used as a part-time seamer, bowled his full quota of overs for only the third time in his T20I career, taking 2 for 33. His dismissals of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan broke a threatening 72-run partnership and triggered a collapse that left Pakistan at least 20 runs short of a par score. Despite late hitting from Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan finished at 171, a total India chased with clinical ease.
SURYAKUMAR YADAV :
— Pan India Review (@PanIndiaReview) September 21, 2025
"You guys should stop asking about the rivalry. If there's a scoreline of 7-7 or 8-7, then it's called a rivalry. But if the scoreline is 10-1 or 10-0, it's not a rivalry anymore". 🤣😂🔥🔥#INDvsPAK #indvspak2025
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India’s reply was spearheaded by a scintillating 105-run opening stand between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. Abhishek’s blistering 74 off 39 balls, filled with clean hitting and calculated risks, broke Pakistan’s spirit inside the first ten overs. Gill provided able support with a composed 47 before cramps forced a brief pause in play. Suryakumar fell cheaply, but Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 30 ensured India coasted home in 18.5 overs, winning by six wickets and reinforcing their dominance in high-pressure encounters.
Despite the easy win, Suryakumar was quick to credit key contributions that shaped the game. He praised Shivam Dube’s breakthrough spell as the turning point, highlighting how the bowling unit adjusted its lines and lengths after the drinks break to choke Pakistan’s scoring. “After the first ten overs, the game changed completely. Our spinners bowled with great control, and Dube was outstanding. He’s been working hard in practice, and today was the perfect example of preparation meeting opportunity,” Suryakumar said. He also lauded the professionalism of young openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, noting their work ethic and understanding of match situations.
For Pakistan, the defeat was a bitter pill. Their fans quickly pointed to the historical head-to-head advantage across all formats, but even the most passionate supporters acknowledge that India’s current brand of aggressive, fearless cricket is widening the gap. The Indian team, under Suryakumar’s leadership, appears stronger, fitter, and more adaptable, while Pakistan continue to struggle for consistency in key moments.
Suryakumar’s comments, though delivered with a smile, carried a message that echoed far beyond the press room. In the modern era of cricket, rivalries are defined not by history alone but by balance and competitiveness. India vs Pakistan will always draw emotion and attention due to shared history and political undertones, but on the field, India’s dominance is undeniable. Sunday night in Dubai may well be remembered as the moment when one of cricket’s greatest rivalries officially shifted from fierce contest to a one-sided narrative.Suryakumar Yadav Declares India vs Pakistan “Not a Rivalry” After 13-0 Domination
