September 13, 2025

Cricket fever is mixing with big emotions as India gears up to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday. For the first time ever, many Indian fans feel torn about this classic rivalry, especially after the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 innocent people lost their lives. Many fans have started a boycott campaign, saying they won’t watch the match to put the country's sentiments first. The Indian government has set a clear policy: the team will keep playing Pakistan only in multilateral tournaments like the Asia Cup, but not in bilateral series. Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, spoke openly about the situation in Dubai. He said it took a long time for the team to know if they would even be coming to the tournament. "The Asia Cup was in limbo for a long period of time, and we were just waiting. We didn't think we were going to be coming at one stage," he said. Once the government gave the green light, the team started preparing. Ten Doeschate added, "It's obviously a very sensitive issue, and I've got no doubt that the players share the compassion and the feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public. ... You have to put those sentiments and emotions behind you. We addressed this in the team meeting today." Despite the emotional weight, the team is treating this match like any other important game. No special preparation has been made, and they want to focus on their game plan. The coach reminded everyone, "Pakistan have sort of started to come to terms with how they want to play T20 cricket, so it's going to be a slightly different challenge from maybe the last 24 months." Cricket star-turned-commentator Gautam Gambhir, who opposes playing against Pakistan while terror attacks continue, gave a clear message to the team: "The focus should be firmly on the job at hand and nothing else." Interestingly, ticket sales for this tense India-Pakistan showdown haven't set the stadium on fire, with many seats still empty. This could reflect the mixed feelings among fans. Ten Doeschate explained the team's mindset: "Gauti's message has just been sort of very professional about not worrying about things that are not in our control. Just trying to be emotionless when approaching the cricket side of things." When asked if the players might use the match to make a statement about the terror attack, ten Doeschate stayed quiet, saying they are following the BCCI and Indian government's directives. "Hopefully, the way we play can represent the way players feel about the country," he said. So, Sunday’s clash isn’t just a cricket game — it’s a battle filled with heavy hearts, strong feelings, and professional grit. Will the team steel themselves and deliver a strong show? Fans will be watching, both on and off the pitch!

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Tags: India vs pakistan, Asia cup 2025, Ryan ten doeschate, Gautam gambhir, Cricket boycott, India pakistan match,