Suryakumar Yadav acted with dignity at Asia Cup presser, criticism against him is unfair and unwarranted

Suryakumar Yadav shares a handshake with Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha

There was much outcry on social media against Suryakumar Yadav for shaking hands with Mohsin Naqvi at the captain’s press conference in Dubai. Let us be blunt- Surya acted with dignity and poise and did what is fitting of an Indian captain. He respected the Chair of the ACC President and not the Interior Affairs Minister of Pakistan. Whoever is in the Chair will have to be shown the respect and it just happens that Naqvi is the President at the moment. Surya shook hands with the Chair and is perfectly justified in doing so.

There are some norms in international sport and diplomacy that you can’t stay away from. Take the case of Neeraj. If Arshad Nadeem is present in Tokyo for the World Championships or for the Asian Games next year will Neeraj not shake hands as a courtesy gesture? And by doing so does he become any less patriotic? Is Surya any less patriotic than anyone else on social media?

Also Read | Asia Cup 2025: The Sanju Samson debate

The question is what is the index of judging patriotism? What makes someone a greater patriot than another? If I cover the India-Pakistan match in Dubai, am I any less a patriot? Really? And who will tell me this? Some social media trolls who are gutter?

When Harmanpreet Kaur goes out to toss with her Pakistan counterpart for the Women’s World Cup and does the customary handshake does she become any less a patriot than the social media revolutionaries? The truth is many of these chaps if they meet Pakistan players will ask for a selfie or an autograph. That’s the hypocrisy of the whole situation and that’s what is plain wrong.

I feel Suryakumar Yadav conducted himself with a lot of grace at the press conference. He answered every question, did not get flustered and yet held his own firmly. This isn’t an easy game to play and every player must be feeling the pressure. They know that the nation will brook no failure and such pressure can be telling. And yet you need to keep balance and just go about the task at hand. That’s what Surya did. Mohsin Naqvi is the head of the ACC and his presence had to be acknowledged. That’s all Surya did and I don’t see any issue with it whatsoever.

Also Read | Contenders look too brittle to stop an Indian charge to glory at the Asia Cup

Coming to India’s first game, it shouldn’t be too difficult against the UAE. And yet there is no room for complacency in international sport. You need to be ruthless all the time and not give the opponent any opportunity to stage an upset.

India has a gun team and I will be keen to see how Shubman Gill bats at the top of the order. What’s the approach? Is it to go hard from ball one or will he want to assess the conditions and then take a call? Second, I am keen on seeing if Jitesh Sharma is preferred over Sanju Samson and how he fares in the middle order? Ahead of the Pakistan match India needs to iron out every doubt and be ready. For after all it will not just be a cricket game on Sunday.