India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated a special word of praise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after leading his side to a memorable five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday.

Suryakumar Yadav hails PM Modi’s support after India’s Asia Cup victory

Shortly after India clinched their ninth Asia Cup title, PM Modi took to X to congratulate the team with a powerful message that also referenced India’s recent military response to terrorism. “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers,” Modi wrote, drawing a parallel between India’s victory on the cricket field and the armed forces’ success in Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives earlier this year.

#OperationSindoor on the games field.

Outcome is the same - India wins!

Congrats to our cricketers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s words, Suryakumar said it felt as though Modi himself had walked onto the field and batted for India. “It feels good when the country’s leader himself bats on the front foot; it felt like he took the strike and scored runs. When Sir is standing in front, the players will automatically play freely. The whole country is celebrating, and when we go back home, we’ll feel even better and gain more motivation to keep performing,” he told ANI.

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Spinners shine as India wins Asia Cup, Surya praises PM Modi

India’s campaign in this Asia Cup carried heavy political undertones, with the team opting not to engage in customary gestures with the Pakistan contingent as a mark of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack. The intensity peaked during the final when India refused to accept the trophy directly from Asian Cricket Council chief and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who eventually walked away from the podium with it.

Suryakumar, however, played down the incident. “I won’t call it a controversy. The real trophy is when you win the hearts of people, the trust of teammates, and the support staff. That’s more valuable than anything else,” he said.

On the field, India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav (4-30), Axar Patel (2-26), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2-30) were ruthless on the slow Dubai track, combining to dismiss Pakistan for 146. Tilak Varma then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 69, while Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube chipped in with vital runs to secure the five-wicket win.

For Suryakumar, it was a milestone moment his first major tournament triumph as captain in a high-pressure India–Pakistan final. And with the Prime Minister himself applauding the victory, the skipper admitted the triumph felt all the more special.

With their ninth Asia Cup crown in the bag and momentum firmly on their side, India will now shift focus to upcoming international assignments, carrying both the confidence of an unbeaten campaign and the encouragement of the nation’s leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final as “Operation Sindoor on the games field,” saying the outcome remained the same, India wins. He congratulated the team for their spirited performance in a high-pressure match, which helped them lift their ninth Asia Cup title.

PM Modi posted on X, “#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same - India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.” The operation, launched by the Indian armed forces on May 7, 2025, came after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. It was a precise, tri-service campaign aimed at dismantling terror networks across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan. The mission showed coordination and professionalism by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, the team showed their composure to chase down 147 to win with just 2 balls remaining in Dubai. Tilak Varma played a composed yet brave 69 not out from 53, involving several important partnerships with Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33) to steer India to victory. Varma's calmness in the chase was important as India lost early wickets with Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill going cheaply.

Asia Cup 2025 Final: Match Highlights

Pakistan got off to a great start with Sahibzada Farhan scoring 57 and Fakhar Zaman scoring 46, putting on 84 runs for the first wicket in under ten overs. However, Kuldeep Yadav (4/30) sent the innings into turmoil, supported by Varun Chakravarthy (2/30), Axar Patel (2/26) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/25). From 113/1, Pakistan plunged to 146 all out, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs.

#OperationSindoor on the games field.

Outcome is the same - India wins!

Congrats to our cricketers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025

See Also: Know what Indian players said after winning their ninth title of Asia Cup in 2025

India's pursuit became tense after losing a couple of wickets, but Tilak Varma held the innings together. His controlled drives and some aggressive strokes paired with Dube’s ability to score quickly changed the direction of the game. Varma hit a vital six off Haris Rauf in the last over, and Rinku Singh smashed the winning boundary, earning India a five-wicket victory and their ninth Asia Cup title, a record.

Asia Cup 2025 was supposed to be a tournament where Asian giants would collide in a battle for supremacy; however, it has turned into a revenge story, as the handshake fiasco between India and Pakistan shook the world, leaving the remainder of the tournament hanging in jeopardy.

Due to ongoing political tension between India and Pakistan and the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, India made their stance clear on playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. In the match between the two sides on Sunday, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and the entire Men in Blue didn’t shake hands with the Pakistan players.

This action infuriated the Men in Green, who lodged an official complaint with the ICC and even threatened to boycott the remainder of the Asia Cup if match referee Andy Pycroft wasn’t removed from officiating in the tournament. If Pakistan beats the UAE on Wednesday, they will once again face India on Sunday.

SKY Takes Indirect Dig at Pakistan

Several former Pakistan cricketers slammed Suryakumar for ignoring basic protocol and not shaking hands with Pakistani players. Amid all the negativity, Suryakumar Yadav took an indirect dig at Pakistan by posting a picture alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian PM celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, and in the image posted by SKY, he was shaking PM Modi’s hand, seemingly mocking the Pakistan side. "Sending my best wishes to our honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on his Birthday 🙏🏻," SKY said.

Sending my best wishes to our honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on his Birthday 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/RKrKhT5OqP

— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) September 17, 2025

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The whole cricketing community of Pakistan criticized Suryakumar for the handshake incident, and it seems the Indian captain returned the favor by sharing a photo of his handshake with the PM, possibly making a dig at the Men in Green.