Suryakumar Yadav and Team India deciding not to shake hands with the Pakistani team is the talk of the town, but it didn't end on the field. During the post-match press
conference, Surya was once again questioned for the same and the Indian T20 skipper reiterated that it was a collective stand.
"I feel a few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit also, and I've already answered it. I've told it at the presentation as well that we actually stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, and we stand with their families also and express our solidarity," said Surya.
"Also, as I said at the PC (presentation), that we dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor, and as they continue to inspire us all, we'll try our best whenever given an opportunity to inspire them as well if possible," he added.
However, Pakistan's head coach Mike Hesson found it disappointing. He said, "Obviously, we were ready to shake hands at the end of the game. We obviously we're disappointed that you know our opposition didn't do that."
Disappointed? Mike Hesson, please—let’s not go there. Suryakumar Yadav made it very clear: some things are above sportsmanship. And he’s right, because when it was time to show sportsmanship, it was the same Surya who, against UAE, withdrew his appeal and recalled a batter who was wrongly given out. In other words, he showed it where it mattered.
Not too long ago, we saw how Virat Kohli greeted Babar Azam of Mohammed Rizwan. We also saw the way Rohit Sharma shook hands with Babar in the last Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. Do you see any lack of sportsmanship there? So, what changed this time? You know it, and so do we.
Before the game, all Indian players were formally informed not to interact with the Pakistan team. That’s why there were no handshakes during practice sessions or even at the captain’s meet. And this was exactly what Team India themselves wanted too.
"Our government and BCCI were aligned together, and we came here, we took a call, and I feel we came here just to play the game. And we gave the proper reply," Surya stated in the press conference.
After the match, when Team India shut the dressing room doors, even Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, didn’t turn up for the presentation. Responding to that, Mile Hesson said, "We were obviously keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match. That didn't happen, you know, that was pretty much the end of it."
What many people might not know - it was also Surya’s birthday that day. He came, won the match, and dedicated the victory to the armed forces. To turn the cricket field into a silent protest, to play the game yet send across a strong message - that’s something only SKY can do.
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