Following India's commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 encounter in Dubai, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar didn't hold back in his assessment of the Pakistani side. Gavaskar, known for his insightful commentary and deep understanding of the game, described the Pakistan team's performance as that of a "Popatwadi team" rather than a national cricket team.
The remark, made on Sony Sports Network after the match, quickly gained traction, sparking discussions and debates among cricket fans and analysts. In Mumbai cricket slang, "Popatwadi team" is a derogatory term used to describe a weak or substandard team. The phrase was popularized in Mumbai cricketing circles by legends like Dilip Sardesai, who used it to describe weak bowling attacks. Gavaskar's use of the term implied a significant lack of competitiveness and quality in Pakistan's performance.
Gavaskar's criticism came after Pakistan struggled to a total of 127/9 in their innings. The Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, dominated the proceedings, restricting Pakistan's scoring opportunities. Kuldeep Yadav took 3 wickets for 18 runs, while Axar Patel took 2 for 18. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya also contributed with early wickets, leaving Pakistan reeling. Only Sahibzada Farhan (40 off 43) and a late cameo from Shaheen Afridi (33* off 16) offered some resistance. The Pakistan innings was plagued by 59 dot balls, highlighting their inability to rotate the strike and maintain momentum.
In response, India chased down the target with ease, reaching the total in just 15.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma provided a quickfire start with 31 runs off 13 balls, while captain Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls. Tilak Verma also contributed with 31 runs. Saim Ayub was the only bowler who managed to pick up wickets for Pakistan.
Gavaskar elaborated on his criticism, stating that he has followed Pakistan cricket for decades and this team was not up to par. He recalled his early memories of watching the legendary Hanif Mohammad play and emphasized the decline in quality. He expressed doubts about Pakistan's ability to challenge other teams in the tournament. When asked about which teams India needed to be wary of, Gavaskar named Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, citing their pace and spin bowling, and their unpredictable nature, respectively.
The match was also marked by some controversy, as the Indian team skipped the customary handshake with the Pakistani players after the match. Reports suggest that this was a collective decision made by the Indian team in protest of recent events. Suryakumar Yadav stated that some things are ahead of the "sportsmen's spirit". Pakistan coach Mike Hesson expressed his disappointment with the situation, stating that he was keen to engage but that did not happen and that was the reason why captain Salman Agha did not attend the presentation.
Gavaskar's sharp critique and the handshake controversy added another layer of intensity to the already fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan. The match took place amidst heightened political tensions and calls for a boycott, which may have contributed to the unusually empty stadium in Dubai. Despite the off-field drama, India's dominant performance and Gavaskar's candid assessment became the main talking points after the game.
