Gautam Gambhir doubles down on India's No Handshake stance; warns Pakistan of further humiliation

India head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded his team's performance after a convincing win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 14. Gambhir thanked the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor for successfully targeting terror outfits in Pakistan.

Team India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash in Dubai. Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets for 28 runs as India restricted Pakistan to just 127 for nine in 20 overs. In response, India chased down the target in 15.5 overs to secure their consecutive victory in the tournament.

We Wanted to Show Solidarity With Pahalgam Attack Victims - Gautam Gambhir

Speaking to the broadcaster after the win, Gautam Gambhir stated that they wanted to show solidarity with the victims and families of the Pahalgam attack. Gambhir added that the team wants to make the country proud through their performance in the tournament.

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"Good win. There is still a lot of cricket left in this tournament. This match was important as we wanted to show solidarity with the victims and their families and what they went through during the Pahalgam attack. More importantly, we want to thank the Indian army for their successful Operation Sindoor. We will try to make our country proud and happy," Gambhir told the broadcaster.

Gautam Gambhir shares his thoughts following India’s triumph over Pakistan 💬

Watch the #DPWorldAsiaCup2025, from Sept 9-28, 7 PM onwards, LIVE on the Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/CWS1L6CaCu

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 14, 2025

Couldn't Have Asked for a Better Performance - Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir said that the Indian bowlers, especially the spinners and Jasprit Bumrah, put the Pakistan batters under pressure. Gambhir emphasized that the bowling display set up the chase for the batsmen.

"You couldn't have asked for a better performance, especially the way the bowlers bowled. We managed to restrict the opposition to 128 [127]," Gambhir opined.

"All the spinners, Jasprit Bumrah, in fact all the bowlers [did really well]. You back your batting line-up to chase 128. The way we started was very important and that is what good teams do. They turn up and keep doing right things day in and day out."

India-Pakistan Match Played Amid Tense Atmosphere

The India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025 was played amid a tense atmosphere, with calls for a boycott following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

The Indian team skipped the customary post-match handshake. After scoring the winning runs, captain Suryakumar Yadav and non-striker Shivam Dube walked straight to the dressing room. The entire team also avoided interaction with Pakistan players or staff.

According to reports, the Salman Ali Agha-led side did approach the Indian dressing room, but the door was closed. This was not the only India-Pakistan encounter in the tournament, as the two teams could meet again in the Super 4 stage or even in the final.

Following the victory, India almost secured their place in the Super 4s. They will play their next match against Oman on Friday, September 19, while Pakistan will face the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, September 17.

Also read: Pakistan batter flirts with Jasprit Bumrah’s favor ahead of blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 match