Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has once again stirred the pot with his blunt assessment of the so-called India vs Pakistan cricket “rivalry,” this time ahead of a crucial ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 clash between the two sides in Colombo.
Speaking confidently on Star Sports ahead of the game, Suryakumar threw shade at Pakistan’s record in women’s ODIs, where India holds an unblemished 11-0 record.
“If you talk about rivalry, it’s when two teams play 12 games and the score is 6-6 or 7-5. But 11-0 is not a rivalry. Pakistan hasn’t been able to beat us in recent times, in men’s or women’s cricket. If the women focus completely on their game, I’m sure they can make it 12-0.”
His remarks quickly went viral, with Indian fans lauding the confidence while critics accused him of underestimating the unpredictability of World Cup cricket.
“Mission 12-0”: SKY backs Indian women to extend unbeaten streak
Suryakumar doubled down on his statement, lauding the Indian women’s cricket team’s form while expressing faith that their dominance over Pakistan would continue.
“Women’s cricket has been playing a different brand of cricket over the last couple of years. They’re performing really well. But against Pakistan, if they continue like this and stay fully focused, I’m sure mission 12-0 is possible,” he said.
The Women in Blue, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are aiming to extend their perfect head-to-head record in ODIs against Pakistan. The fixture, always emotionally charged regardless of form or context, has once again gained traction thanks to SKY’s candid words.
A pattern of provocation: Suryakumar’s repeated jabs at ‘rivalry’ narrative
Suryakumar’s comments are the latest in a string of dismissive remarks aimed at Pakistan’s competitiveness across formats. Just weeks earlier, during the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian skipper had a pointed exchange with a Pakistani journalist following India’s 3-0 sweep over Pakistan in the men’s tournament.
“Sir, my request is that we should now stop calling India vs Pakistan matches a rivalry.”
When the journalist clarified he was referring to the gap in standards, not the rivalry itself, SKY responded with a sharp retort:
“Sir, rivalry and standard are all the same. Now what is a rivalry? If two teams have played 15 matches and it’s 8-7, that’s a rivalry. Here it’s 13-1 (12-3) or something. There is no contest.”
The exchange underscored his consistent stance: dominance, not drama, defines India’s recent record against Pakistan.
Toss tension: No handshake between captains fuels rivalry debate
Adding to the tension surrounding the Women’s World Cup fixture, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana appeared to skip the traditional post-toss handshake at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. The subtle snub comes on the heels of similar incidents in the men’s game during the Asia Cup, where Indian players noticeably avoided handshakes with Pakistani counterparts.
The coin toss, held under overcast skies, went in favour of Pakistan, who chose to bowl first. India made one change, bringing in Renuka Singh Thakur in place of the unwell Amanjot Kaur. Pakistan replaced Omaima Sohail with Sadaf Shamas.
India vs Pakistan: rivalry in name or reality?
Despite Suryakumar’s blunt analysis, the India vs Pakistan cricket fixture continues to captivate fans worldwide, especially in ICC tournaments. While India’s record in both men’s and women’s formats is heavily one-sided, the fixture still draws unmatched emotional and political attention.
But SKY’s comments serve as a reminder of the standards currently separating the two sides — and raise the stakes for Pakistan to prove that the contest is, in fact, still a rivalry.
