No Trophy, No Problem: India Celebrates Asia Cup Victory Empty-Handed
India beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup final by 5 wickets, but refused to accept the trophy from PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.
Team India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in a thrilling Asia Cup final on 24 September 2025. Pakistan, after a strong start, collapsed from 113/1 to 146 all out. Kuldeep Yadav starred with 4 wickets, while Bumrah, Axar, and Varun picked 2 each. Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker to dismiss Haris Rauf went viral after he mimicked Rauf’s fighter-jet celebration.
Chasing 147, India stumbled early at 20/3, with Abhishek Sharma, Gill, and captain Suryakumar Yadav dismissed cheaply. Tilak Verma (69* off 53) and Sanju Samson steadied the chase, while Rinku Singh hit the winning boundary in the 20th over.
The post-match moments stole headlines. India refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, also ACC president, citing his anti-India stance. Instead, Suryakumar held an “imaginary trophy” during celebrations, while players kept medals aside. BCCI confirmed a formal complaint will be filed against Naqvi and announced a ?21 crore reward.
Adding humour, Shoaib Akhtar mistakenly said “Abhishek Bachchan” instead of Abhishek Sharma, sparking witty replies from the Bachchan family. PM Modi hailed the victory as “#OperationSindoor on the games field.”
India may not have lifted the trophy, but the victory and celebration remain unforgettable.
