NEW DELHI: The stage was set in Dubai for the Asia Cup 2025 captains’ press conference, but one detail immediately caught everyone’s attention. India captain
Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha were not seated side by side. Instead, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan was placed in between them — a move by organisers that avoided direct proximity of the two arch-rival captains, keeping the atmosphere composed ahead of the marquee clash.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India will open their campaign on September 10 against hosts UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. But all eyes are already on the high-voltage India vs Pakistan contest scheduled for September 14 at the same venue.
Asked about toning down on-field aggression, Suryakumar Yadav made his stance clear. “Aggression (is) always there on field and you can’t do without aggression if you want to win,” the India captain said, suggesting his team will not hold back in the big clash.
Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha had a different take.
“If someone wants to be aggressive that is his call. From my side I don’t give anyone any instructions,” he said, leaving it to his players to channel their emotions as they see fit.
India, the most successful team in
Asia Cup history, have lifted the trophy a record eight times.
In the last edition in 2023, they outclassed Sri Lanka in the final to claim their eighth crown.
This year, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, they will be aiming to secure a ninth title and further cement their dominance in the tournament.
Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch HereThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less