Suryakumar Yadav Reacts After India Denied Asia Cup 2025 Trophy. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his disbelief after the team was denied the Asia Cup 2025 trophy. The right-handed batsman emphasized that India had earned the victory and deserved to lift the trophy, following a hard-fought tournament win. His remarks came after India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final on Sunday (September 28) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
A controversy erupted immediately after the match. Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy and winners’ awards from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and a government minister in Pakistan. When the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from him, Naqvi controversially took the trophy away.
Despite the absence of the physical trophy, the Indian players celebrated their win on the podium. Suryakumar even mimicked Rohit Sharma’s iconic T20 World Cup 2024 celebration, lifting an imaginary trophy, which drew cheers from teammates and fans alike.
“We deserved it”: Suryakumar Yadav speaks out after India denied the Asia Cup 2025 trophy
During the post-match press conference, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav expressed his disbelief at the unusual turn of events, stating that he had never witnessed a champion team being denied their trophy. He emphasized that India had earned the title through hard work and deserved recognition.
“This is something I’ve never seen in my cricketing journey or while following the sport—a champion team being denied a trophy. And it was not an easy win; it was hard-earned,” he said.
He continued, “We’ve been here since September 4, played two consecutive strong games, and I truly feel we deserved it. I’ve said all I can about it—there’s nothing more to add.”
The 35-year-old also noted that the team wasn’t disheartened by the incident.
“We weren’t disappointed. In fact, if you looked at us on the podium, there were a lot of smiles—we were enjoying the moment on the field,” Yadav added.
Following the victory, he announced his decision to donate his earnings from the Asia Cup 2025 to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Indian Armed Forces. In the final, India successfully chased down a target of 147 against Pakistan, winning by five wickets thanks to a match-winning 69* from Tilak Varma. The Men in Blue remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning all seven of their games.
