PM Modi calls India’s Asia Cup win over Pakistan ‘Operation Sindoor on the games field’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian cricket team after their five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, describing the victory as “Operation Sindoor on the games field.” He remarked that, as always, “the outcome is the same – India wins,” and applauded the team’s composed performance in a high-pressure match.

“#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers,” PM Modi posted on X.

India secured their ninth Asia Cup title in Dubai, chasing down 147 with two balls to spare. Tilak Varma, the young left-hander from Hyderabad, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 69 off 53 deliveries. Walking in at a tense moment with India at 20 for three, he showed composure and maturity beyond his age.

Shivam Dube’s quickfire 33 off 21 balls provided crucial support, as the duo added 60 runs for the fifth wicket. Sanju Samson also chipped in with 24, ensuring the chase never slipped out of control. The momentum shifted in the 15th over when Haris Rauf conceded 17 runs, with Varma’s fluent strokeplay combining with Dube’s aggression to break Pakistan’s grip on the game.

With 10 runs required in the final over, Varma launched Rauf over mid-wicket for six before debutant Rinku Singh struck the winning boundary, sealing a memorable win.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan had made a strong start through openers Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46), who added 84 runs in under ten overs. However, India’s spinners turned the tide. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 30, while Varun Chakravarthy (2/30), Axar Patel (2/26) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) dismantled the middle and lower order. Pakistan’s batting collapsed dramatically, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs.

Bumrah’s precise yorker to dismiss Rauf was one of the standout moments of the innings. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership and with mentor Gautam Gambhir’s presence in the camp, the team showed resilience and confidence, lifting their ninth Asia Cup trophy.