From field to feud: Hardik Singh mocks Pakistan with jet-fall act, shuts down rivalry talk

Hardik Singh mocks Pakistan with jet-fall act, shuts down rivalry talk. (Photo: X)

In a jab at the Pakistan hockey team, Hardik Singh claimed that India and its longstanding rivals are not really in competition and emphasized the Men in Blue's superiority in recent games. Reviving the sport's lost glory, the Indian hockey team has experienced remarkable progress in recent years. With their recent Asian title, Harmanpreet Singh and company qualified for the FIH World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands the following year.

With a perfect record in their last ten meetings, India has solidified its dominance over Pakistan in hockey in recent years. Eight of those matches saw India win, with the other two ending in draws, highlighting the widening gap between the two teams.

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Vice-captain Hardik was asked if the India-Pakistan rivalry still had the same fervor during an event. His response was succinct and direct, rejecting the idea and highlighting it with the widely reported jet-fall gesture that has been in the news lately.

"I think that right now there is no competition anymore, so there is no point about talking about it, there is no doubt in the widening gap. Because the way things are going these days, I think it is not there only," said Hardik on the India Today Conclave.

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The infamous ‘fighter jet’ celebration first made headlines during the India-Pakistan Super 4 clash at the Asia Cup 2025, with Haris Rauf in the spotlight. After dismissing Sanju Samson, the pacer unleashed an aggressive celebration, but the real flashpoint came near the boundary ropes when he responded to taunts from Indian fans. In response, he flashed a ‘0-6’ sign with his fingers — a taunt alluding to Pakistan’s unverified claim of downing six Indian fighter jets during the four-day border standoff that followed India’s Operation Sindoor earlier this year.

Hardik Singh stressed India’s dominance in hockey, pointing out that Pakistan’s last victory dates back to the previous decade. Since then, he noted, the former giants have endured a steep decline, failing to beat India for over ten years.

"I think their federation. I think their athletes are quite good, but they are not getting facilities. Like in 2014, they had won against us the last time. Since 2014, Pakistan has not won against India in hockey. Sir, 2014. So I think that in the last what, like twelve years? Yes we didn’t lose a match," said Hardik.