As they gear up to face Pakistan again in the Asia Cup, India’s players must ignore distractions, captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasized on Saturday. The tournament, featuring eight teams, has been overshadowed by the high-stakes India-Pakistan matches, their first since the May military conflict. Despite India’s victory in the heated Group A match last week, the players avoided post-match handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts.
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Suryakumar dedicated the win, achieved by seven wickets, to India’s armed forces, with teammates echoing similar sentiments on social media. Pakistan considered withdrawing in protest against the match referee’s perceived leniency towards India’s conduct but decided to play the UAE instead.
As tensions simmer ahead of Sunday’s showdown, Suryakumar advised his teammates on handling external stress: “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep. It’s easier said than done, but it’s crucial.”
“It’s your choice what you let into your mind,” he stated. “I’ve been clear with the team: to succeed in this tournament, we need to block out the noise and focus on what’s beneficial.”
Despite their previous win, Suryakumar stressed that past outcomes won’t influence the upcoming super four match. “Our preparation has been solid, with three good games under our belt,” he noted. “We’re concentrating on our strengths, maintaining our positive habits. Each game is a fresh start, regardless of past victories.”
