Asia Cup 2025 | 'The real trophy is...': Suryakumar Yadav on showpiece controversy

Suryakumar Yadav (Pic: File Pic)

After defeating Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final by five wickets, Team India clinched its ninth title at the Dubai International Stadium.

Following the triumph, the "Men in Blue", however, refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi.

Speaking about the decision, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav said that for him, winning the hearts of the people and earning their trust is the real trophy.

"I won't call it controversy. If you have seen, people have posted photos of trophy here and there. But the real trophy is when you win the hearts of people, the players, the trust you earn, the support staff, the trust they have shown, the people who work behind the scenes, that is the real trophy. The real trophy is the work and effort of so many people on the field," said the 35-year-old batsman.

Reacting to the controversy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Devajit Saikia, assured that the cricketing body will launch a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against ACC.

"So far as the trophy is concerned, trophy distribution, India cannot take the trophy from the person who is waging a war against our country. We have taken a decision not to accept the trophy but that does not allow the gentleman to take away the trophy and the medals to his hotel," said Saikia.

"This is unexpected, very childish in nature and we will launch a very strong protest with ICC in the forthcoming ICC meeting to be held in Dubai in the first week of November," he added.

In the final match of Asia Cup 2025, Tilak Varma played a match-winning knock of an unbeaten 69 runs. Facing 53 balls, he smashed three boundaries and four maximums.

Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav played a crucial role, scalping four wickets by conceding 30 runs in four overs.

With this, India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final of Asia Cup 2025. The victory in the final also marked India's third win over Pakistan in the just-concluded continental tournament in Dubai.