The Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan in Dubai witnessed a fiery clash, not just between bat and ball, but also in gestures and celebrations. India's Jasprit Bumrah, known for his composed demeanor, found himself at the center of a viral moment after dismissing Pakistan's Haris Rauf.
Bumrah clean bowled Rauf with a trademark, toe-crushing yorker in the 18th over. Rauf, failing to get his bat down in time, saw his off-stump uprooted, contributing to Pakistan's collapse. But the dismissal was only half the story. What followed was a "jet crash" celebration by Bumrah, mimicking a plane going down. This was a direct response to Rauf's own actions during the Super Four match between the two sides a week prior.
During the Super Four encounter, Rauf was seen making a gesture of an airplane crashing, which was widely interpreted as a taunt related to the military conflict between India and Pakistan. This provocative act earned Rauf a fine of 30% of his match fee from the ICC after a formal complaint was lodged by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The incident was reportedly triggered by Indian fans chanting "Kohli, Kohli," reminding Rauf of the sixes Virat Kohli hit off his bowling during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Bumrah's send-off to Rauf in the final was thus seen as a "perfect revenge" or giving Rauf "his own medicine". Social media exploded with reactions to Bumrah's celebration, with many fans applauding the fitting response. Some termed it a "playful yet pointed gesture" that underscored India's dominance in the match.
While Bumrah's actions have been widely celebrated by Indian fans, they also raise questions about potential ICC sanctions. Rauf was previously fined for his gesture, and Bumrah's mimicry could be viewed as a similar breach of conduct. However, there is a strong sentiment that Bumrah's response was justified, given Rauf's earlier actions and the underlying tensions between the two nations. Whether the ICC will take action against Bumrah remains to be seen. Regardless, the incident has added another layer of intensity to the already fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan.
