Suryakumar Yadav has played down the idea that India’s clash with Pakistan still qualifies as a cricket rivalry, following his side’s commanding victory in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter on Sunday.
Responding to a question on whether Pakistan had raised their standards compared to their heavy defeat in the group stage, Suryakumar was forthright.
“I would like to say one thing on this question. I feel that you should stop asking this question on the rivalry,” he said, before being reminded that the query had not been about rivalry at all.
India have now beaten Pakistan in seven successive men’s internationals since their last defeat, which came at the Asia Cup in 2022 in Dubai.
“Standards and rivalry are the same,” Suryakumar explained. “According to me, if two teams play 15 or 20 matches and if [head-to-head] it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry. But 13-0, 10-1…I do not know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore. But yes, I feel we played better cricket than them.”
Before addressing the so-called rivalry, Suryakumar identified what he believed was the decisive phase of the contest. Pakistan had raced to 91 for 1 at the ten-over mark, their best halfway score in T20 internationals against India. At the drinks break, however, Suryakumar rallied his teammates, and India immediately tightened their grip.
The next seven overs yielded only 38 runs, the lowest tally between overs 10 and 17 by any team in this tournament.
“According to me, the turning point was in the first drinks in the first innings,” Suryakumar said. “People changed their body language after that. You always see the game changes generally after the powerplay. But today, the game changed after ten overs, when the bowlers changed their line and lengths, understood what was needed in that situation, and showed a little more energy. The spinners bowled well. And according to me, Shivam Dube’s spell, you can say that it was a turning point.”
Dube delivered his full quota of overs for only the third time in 38 T20 internationals, claiming 2 for 33 and compensating for an off day from Jasprit Bumrah, who finished wicketless with figures of 4-0-45-0.
The all-rounder removed Saim Ayub to end a dangerous 72-run partnership for the second wicket, and then dismissed half-centurion Sahibzada Farhan with an off-cutter in the 15th over.
“I think he has been working really hard on his bowling in all the practice sessions,” Suryakumar said of Dube. “And this was the perfect game where he got an opportunity. He always wanted to bowl at least two overs. And today he got to bowl his quota of overs, so he was very happy. And the way he delivered, I think he had very clear plans.
“I am only batting in the nets when he bowls a lot. He bowls to all the proper batters. Sometimes bowls with the new ball. So his preparations are always on point. And whenever he gets an opportunity like this, like today, I think he will always be ready to deliver for the team.”
India’s openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill ensured there were no alarms in the chase, bringing up 100 runs in under nine overs. The eventual victory underlined India’s growing dominance in a fixture that, according to their captain, has long since ceased to be a contest of equals.
Statbox
India v Pakistan – recent men’s internationals
- Last Pakistan win: Asia Cup 2022, Dubai
- Since then: India won 7 in a row
Asia Cup Super Four, Dubai – Key figures
- Pakistan: 164 for 6 (20 overs)
- Sahibzada Farhan 56 (36)
- Saim Ayub 38 (29)
- Shivam Dube 2 for 33
- India: 165 for 2 (15.1 overs)
- Abhishek Sharma 74 (39)
- Shubman Gill 54* (34)
- India won by 8 wickets, 29 balls remaining
