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India skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Tuesday sounded the bugle for the high-octane Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan on Sunday. The defending champions will open their campaign in a Group A match on Wednesday against the UAE, before the marquee clash against arch-rivals on September 14 in Dubai.
Ahead of the tournament opener between Afghanistan and Hong Kong, all eight captains came together for the tournament-eve captains' press conference. Indian skipper Suryakumar, when asked whether his team would dial down the aggression during the Pakistan clash, said that his side will not hold back on aggression against their fierce rivals.
"Aggression (is) always there on field and you can't do without aggression if you want to win,"
Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha gave a more diplomatic answer to the same question, "If someone wants to be aggressive that is his call. From my side I don't give anyone any instructions."
SKY also opened up on his Team India's preparations and said that his players are in good shape after undergoing extensive practice sessions.
"We have got few practice sessions. Feels good. It's will be a good challenge playing best teams from Asia Cup," he said.
The swashbuckling batter, who was named India's captain after Rohit Sharma led the team to the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, doesn't want his team to underestimate the UAE, India's first opponents in the Asia Cup 2025. The UAE might be the underdogs, but under the coaching of Lalchand Rajput, the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning skipper with India, can spring a surprise.
"They are playing exciting brand of cricket and came close in some of the games in a (recent) tri-series. Hope they cross the line in the Asia Cup," he said.
Suryakumar, though, remained tight-lipped on India's playing combination against the UAE and said that the team management won't experiment in the opening fixture.
"When you play a format you need to know how good is your preparation. Why mend something that isn't broken? If something has given us results why would we need to change that aspect separately," he said.
India, the most succesful side in Asia Cup history with eight titles, face Oman in their last group game on September 19.
