India extended its dominance over Pakistan with another commanding win in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash on Sunday. After guiding his team to a six-wicket victory, skipper Suryakumar Yadav made a striking comment that has now become the talking point of the tournament. He urged fans and the media, “please don’t call India-Pakistan matches a rivalry.”
India and Pakistan have now faced each other 15 times in T20 internationals. Out of those, India has emerged victorious in 12 encounters, while Pakistan managed only three wins. The record, according to Suryakumar, proves why the contests should no longer be described as a traditional rivalry. He stressed, “If two teams have played 15 matches and the score is 8-7, that’s a rivalry. But when it’s 12-3 or 13-1, there is no contest.”
During the post-match press conference, a senior Pakistani journalist suggested that the gap in standards between the two sides has widened. Suryakumar responded with a smile, saying, “Sir, rivalry and standard are all the same. Please don’t call India-Pakistan matches a rivalry anymore.” With that, he ended the interaction and walked out of the media room with a grin.
The skipper’s statement has sparked fresh debate in cricketing circles. For decades, India vs Pakistan matches have drawn massive global audiences, often described as the sport’s biggest rivalry. However, the numbers in recent years tell a different story. India, the reigning world champion, has not only dominated T20Is but also set new benchmarks in consistency and performance.
As the Asia Cup 2025 moves forward, Suryakumar’s remark adds a new dimension to the discussion around one of cricket’s most-watched fixtures. Fans are left to wonder whether the India-Pakistan clash should still be seen as a rivalry or simply a reflection of India’s current superiority.
