India secured their ninth Asia Cup victory by defeating Pakistan in the final by five wickets on Sunday, leading to congratulatory message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and subsequent remarks from Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav about the leader’s support.Prime Minister Modi’s congratulatory message on social media not only celebrated India’s victory but also referenced Operation Sindoor, prompting a response from Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.
“It feels good when the country’s leader himself bats on the front foot; it felt like he took the strike and scored runs. It was great to see, and when the sir is standing in front, then definitely the players will play freely. The most important thing is that the whole country is celebrating. When we go back (to India), it will feel good, and we will get more inspiration and motivation to do well,” Surya expressed while speaking to ANI.Watch: Suryakumar Yadav reacts to PM Modi’s post on Asia Cup winThe victory celebration was marked by an unprecedented situation during the trophy presentation ceremony, where the Indian team did not receive the trophy from ACC Chief and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.The PCB chairman departed from the podium with the trophy after the presentation ceremony, marking an unusual instance where the winning team did not receive the trophy.Addressing the unusual trophy presentation situation, Suryakumar Yadav provided his perspective on the matter.“I won’t call it controversy. If you have seen, people have posted photos of trophy here and there. But the real trophy is when you win the hearts of people, the players, the trust you earn, the support staff, the trust they have shown, the people who work behind the scenes, that is the real trophy. The real trophy is the work and effort of so many people on the field,” Surya stated.India won the Asia Cup title by 5-wickets and maintained their position against Pakistan where the team didn’t shake hands with their counterparts.The rivalry gathered heat in aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, and subsequently India’s response in the form of Operations Sindoor. As a mark of solidarity with the armed forces and respect for those who lost their lives, India opted against shaking hands with the Pakistan team.
