NEW DELHI: The high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan last week turned fiery both on and off the field as tempers flared between players and controversial gestures from Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf sparked outrage. While chasing a target of 172, Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill were involved in heated on-field exchanges with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rauf, leading to multiple confrontations.The flashpoint came when Gill dispatched Rauf for a forward-press pull shot at the end of an over. Abhishek, standing at the non-striker’s end, exchanged words with Rauf, who hit back verbally. Gill then joined the altercation before umpires stepped in to defuse the situation.A video that quickly went viral showed Rinku Singh, acting as a substitute, rushing in with drinks and physically pulling Gill away while delivering instructions to calm the openers down.The controversy deepened when Rauf, fielding near the boundary, responded to crowd taunts with a provocative “0-6” hand gesture. The sign alluded to Pakistan’s unverified claims of shooting down six Indian fighter jets during a four-day border clash following Operation Sindoor in May — an action that drew sharp criticism from Indian fans on social media.On the cricketing front, Pakistan had posted their highest-ever T20I first-innings total against India, finishing at 171/5. But India’s response was emphatic, led by a blazing 105-run opening stand between Abhishek (74) and Gill (47), sealing a memorable win.The victory, however, was overshadowed by the series of heated confrontations and Rauf’s controversial gesture — incidents that added yet another chapter to the storied and volatile India-Pakistan rivalry.
