COLOMBO: India’s cricket captain Suryakumar Yadav has stirred fresh debate by declaring that matches between India and Pakistan can no longer be considered a true rivalry, citing his team’s continued dominance in recent contests.
Speaking after India’s six-wicket triumph over Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four clash, Yadav stressed that a rivalry should reflect balanced outcomes across several encounters. “When it’s 7-7 or 8-7, you can call it a rivalry. But when one side keeps winning, it loses that edge,” he remarked.
His statement was backed by statistics, with India holding a commanding record over Pakistan in T20 encounters, including 11 wins against just 3 losses, alongside one tied match in Asia Cup history. The captain also acknowledged fielding errors, particularly dropped catches, but maintained confidence in India’s overall performance and consistency.
Yadav’s comments are being viewed by many as a psychological play, downplaying Pakistan’s stature on the cricket field. While fans across the border continue to treat every clash as a high-voltage battle, his assertion hints at India’s growing confidence and Pakistan’s struggle to restore parity in recent years.
Nevertheless, cricket observers believe the fierce atmosphere, massive fan following, and political undertones will continue to make Indo-Pak fixtures among the most watched spectacles in world cricket, regardless of the balance of results.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.