‘Aggression is always there when we take the field’ – Suryakumar Yadav stuns media, refusing to advise Indian players to control temper against Pakistan ahead of Asia Cup 2025.
India vs Pakistan match of the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled for September 14 in Dubai, has already made waves globally. With the first confrontation since the Pahalgam terror attack and India's Operation Sindoor, the political sparring between the two nations automatically lent heft to the sporting subplot. At the official curtain-raiser media briefing on Tuesday, captains of all participating teams were in attendance, but the spotlight was firmly fixed on India and Pakistan's captains, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha.
One of the questions posed to Suryakumar Yadav was whether Indian players should rein in their temper when playing against Pakistan, given current political sensitivities. The consensus was that emotions could be running high and, by association, impact on-field behaviour.
Yadav's reply was direct and honest, "Aggression is always present when we step onto the field. If you don't have it, I don't think you can play this game. I'm extremely looking forward to stepping onto the field tomorrow. You don't have to tell anything to any player everybody is different and knows how to perform the best."
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha also shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing that aggression is inherent to the game, especially for fast bowlers.
"Anyone who wants to be aggressive on the field is welcome to do so. Fast bowlers, in any case, live on aggression—you can't hold them back, that's what drives them. As long as it remains within the sporting spirit of the game, there are no limits from my end," he said.
Both skippers made it clear that although sentimentality is high during an India-Pakistan match, constructive aggression—not restraint—is the mantra. They dissociated themselves from rhetoric that sounds like "war minus the shooting," and made it clear that professional intensity and preparation continue to be priorities.
The match is commonly viewed as something more than a cricket match it is an event driven by politics, passion, and money. Even with constant diplomatic strain, the match is still a money-making pillar for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In appreciation of the importance of the match, the government of India gave special approval for the team to attend this multilateral competition, highlighting how vital the Asia Cup match is to fans, sponsors, and cricket boards as well.
Both captains emphasized that preparation, concentration, and directing aggression positively will be key. Suryakumar Yadav's frank comment is a message to rivals: India's players will enter the field with ferocity, and it will be each side's challenge to manage the pressure. While Salman Ali Agha's support of managed aggression signals Pakistan is just as ready to meet intensity with intensity.
With the Asia Cup 2025 now underway, the India-Pakistan clash promises high drama, on-field intensity, and electrifying cricket, ensuring fans worldwide will be glued to the action.
