Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India were no match for Pakistan, who were handed a crushing 7-wicket loss in the Asia Cup 2025 Match No. 6 Group B game at Dubai Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Sunday. The Men in Blue were one notch above their arch-rivals, who failed to show any resistance in the entire game, as a clinical performance thrust India to four points and one step closer to the Super 4s spot. India coach Gautam Gambhir, who was criticised for his decision-making that saw him drop ace pacer Arshdeep Singh from the XI in place of an extra spinner, has now been receiving praises after the spinners’ ploy worked against the UAE and Pakistan in the first two matches.
Gambhir said it’s imperative to work with honesty in the dressing room and he has seen both good and bad days while being at the helm of the national team.
“I’ve had my good days and bad days as well. That is what coaching is all about. I knew this when I took up this coaching role. The important thing is to work honestly in that dressing room. We need honesty everywhere if Indian cricket has to move ahead – in the commentary box and studio as well,” he said to Sony Sports after the game.
“You only compare oranges with oranges. You don’t compare oranges with apples. Many people didn’t see the transition in our Test team. But ultimately, I kept backing the players. The entire support staff kept backing the players. Hopefully, we’ll keep getting the results in the future as well,” he added.
Speaking on the match, Gambhir said: “You couldn’t have asked for a better performance, especially the way the bowlers bowled. We managed to restrict the opposition to 128 [127]. All the spinners, Jasprit Bumrah, in fact all the bowlers [did really well]. You back your batting line-up to chase 128. The way we started was very important and that is what good teams do. They turn up and keep doing right things day in and day out.”
‘Win vs Pak dedicated to Indian armed forces’
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team stands in solidarity with the kin of the victims of the terror Pahalgam attack and dedicated the win. Gambhir also echoed his skipper’s words and said the team stands in solidarity with the families of the victims of the terror attack, thanking the Indian armed forces for Operation Sindoor.
“The match was important for us because as a team we wanted to show our solidarity to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. For everything they have gone through. More importantly, we want to thank our armed forces for their successful Operation Sindoor, and I’m sure we will try and make our country proud and happy,” Gambhir said.
