Team India clinched their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final on Sunday (September 28) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
After the triumph, skipper Suryakumar Yadav highlighted the role head coach Gautam Gambhir played in bringing calm to this team, as every single match against Pakistan sparked a storm on the field.
The continental event saw India facing Pakistan on the cricket field for the first time since the heinous Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, which led to India launching Operation Sindoor on terrorist camps across the border.
India defeated Pakistan thrice in the Asia Cup 2025. The Men in Blue refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts in all three meetings and also refused to accept the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister.
"Gauti bhai, his relationship with me is that of a younger and elder brother. We have known each other very well since the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) days. I might have played the most under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, but I've learned some tricks from Gauti bhai too. He knows what goes into a player's mind on the ground, what sort of preparations are needed. Whenever I am on the ground, I look at him, and he always has something for me. As soon as he signals anything from outside, I do it without thinking," Suryakumar said in an exclusive interview with NDTV.
Ahead of the final, India suffered a blow as all-rounder Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the game due to an injury. While the setback was massive, Gambhir asked Suryakumar to put his faith in Shivam Dube as a powerplay bowler and the latter didn’t disappoint.
"This game too, we missed Hardik. He tried his best, but we wanted an additional batter. Some day, it can be 10 for 2 or 30 for 3 (or: 10/2 or 30/3). Gambhir said Shivam Dube will take that responsibility; I am damn sure. That is why we gave the new ball to Dube. That's what he did on the field. After the game, he admitted that he was under a lot of pressure," Surya stated.
"I think it's one of the toughest tournaments I have played in for a very long time," the India captain remarked.
