Suryakumar Yadav asked teammates not to sledge Pakistan, BCCI releases BTS video

By Admin

17 Feb, 2026

Calm Leadership in a High-Pressure Clash

India captain Suryakumar Yadav showcased remarkable leadership during India’s high-voltage encounter against Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Ahead of the second innings at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium, Suryakumar delivered a firm and composed message to his teammates   avoid sledging and focus purely on cricket.

The disciplined approach paid rich dividends as India secured a commanding 61-run victory and booked their place in the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

BCCI’s BTS Video Reveals the Message

In a behind-the-scenes video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Suryakumar was seen urging his teammates to stay calm and avoid verbal exchanges with Pakistan’s batters.

“Keep running between the overs. Don’t say anything to anyone   we have to play good cricket. We will win this game through good skill,” he told the team.

The message was clear   let the bat and ball do the talking. Instead of getting caught up in mind games, India focused on executing their plans with discipline and precision.

Match Played Amid Controversy

The fixture had already been surrounded by off-field drama. Pakistan had reportedly threatened to pull out of the match ahead of the tournament before eventually backtracking following intervention from the International Cricket Council.

Despite the tense build-up, the match itself witnessed no verbal altercations. India also maintained their ‘no-handshake policy’ with their arch-rivals, but once the game began, cricket remained the sole focus.

Ishan Kishan Sets the Tone

Opener Ishan Kishan laid the foundation for India’s dominant performance with a blistering 77 off just 40 balls. His aggressive knock powered India to a formidable total of 175, putting Pakistan under immediate scoreboard pressure.

The innings was marked by fearless strokeplay and intelligent strike rotation, perfectly reflecting the captain’s call for skill-based dominance.

Bowlers Seal the Commanding Win

Defending 175, India’s bowling unit delivered a clinical performance.

Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel each claimed two wickets, steadily dismantling Pakistan’s chase.

Pakistan never found momentum and were eventually bowled out for 114, handing India a comprehensive 61-run victory.

Extending Dominance in T20 World Cups

With this victory, India further strengthened their dominance over Pakistan in T20 World Cup history. The head-to-head record now stands at an emphatic 8–1 in India’s favour.

More importantly, the win confirmed India’s qualification for the Super 8 stage, underlining both tactical brilliance and emotional control in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.

Leadership Beyond Numbers

While the scoreboard reflected India’s superiority, the true highlight of the evening was Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership. In a contest often charged with emotion and national pride, his decision to discourage sledging demonstrated maturity and clarity of purpose.

In high-pressure matches, skill wins games   but discipline builds champions. India’s composed approach against Pakistan was a perfect example of that philosophy in action.