“Temper? Aggression is always there when we take the field,” Suryakumar said during the captains’ conference ahead of the tournament. “And without aggression, I don’t think you can play this sport. I’m very excited to take the field.”
Photo: IANS
India captain Suryakumar Yadav has made it clear there are no instructions to curb aggression or control emotions, even for the upcoming high-voltage Asia Cup clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai. The remark came against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions between the two nations lately.
“Temper? Aggression is always there when we take the field,” Suryakumar said during the captains’ conference ahead of the tournament. “And without aggression, I don’t think you can play this sport. I’m very excited to take the field.”
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Pakistan skipper Salman Agha shared a similar view, insisting that players would be free to express themselves.
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“You don’t need to say anything to any player,” Agha said. “Everyone is different individually. If someone wants to be aggressive on the field, they are more than welcome to do that. When it comes to fast bowlers, they are always aggressive and you can’t stop them because that’s what keeps them going.
“From my side, there is no instruction to anyone, as long as it stays on the field,” he added.
The much-anticipated contest will also mark a new chapter for both sides, who have moved on from their biggest stars. India are without the retired Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while Pakistan have opted to leave out Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Unlike Pakistan, who arrive after a busy T20I schedule in recent months, India will be playing their first game in the format since the England series in January. Despite being seen as tournament favourites, Suryakumar dismissed the idea with a smile.
“Kisne bola? (Who said?),” he asked with a laugh.
“I haven’t heard of it. But you have played in this format and you know how your preparations are. If your preparations are good, then you will be very confident when you take the field.
“We are playing T20 as a team after a long time. But we were here three-four days back, had some good time together as a team, and we are really looking forward to this tournament,” he added.
In contrast, Agha comes in with momentum, having just led Pakistan to a tri-series win over Afghanistan and UAE. That followed mixed results on the road — a 2-1 win over the West Indies in the USA and a 1-2 loss to Bangladesh in Dhaka. The Pakistan captain underlined the unpredictability of the shortest format.
“In T20, I don’t think anyone is favourite,” he said. “On a particular day, you just have to play good cricket. T20 is a very fast game. In one or two overs, the game can completely change.
“The tri-series was always preparation for the Asia Cup. If we won it, that’s very good, but the focus was always on this tournament. We still have to come here, play good cricket, and win the Asia Cup. That’s all that matters.
“We are playing very good cricket. I think for almost four months, we have won three series out of four. So we are doing very well as a team and at the same time, we are very excited. A lot of the boys will play in the Asia Cup for the first time but they are ready for the challenge,” added Agha.
Eight-time champions India will open their 2025 Asia Cup T20 campaign against the UAE on Wednesday while Pakistan, who won the tournament twice, will play minnows Oman in their first match on Friday.
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