The Congress party on Monday (September 29) lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comment following India’s Asia Cup 2025 victory against Pakistan in Dubai. India defeated Pakistan by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium, securing yet another title.
PM Modi’s Remark
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi congratulated the Indian team while drawing a parallel with the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 this year.
“Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers,” PM Modi wrote.
The remark drew sharp political reactions.
Congress Reaction
Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised the comparison, saying:
- “Prime Minister ji, first of all, it is not right to compare a cricket match to a battlefield.”
- “Second, if you have made the comparison anyway, then you need to learn from the Indian team that when you are close to victory, good captains do not ceasefire on the orders of any third umpire.”
The Congress accused the prime minister of trivialising a sensitive military operation by equating it with a cricket match.
Players’ Response
Interestingly, Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav welcomed the PM’s congratulatory message, saying it felt like the nation’s leader himself “bats on the front foot.”
“It felt like he took the strike and scored runs. It was great to see, and when the sir is standing in front, then definitely the players will play freely,” he said.
Trophy Controversy
The celebrations were overshadowed by a controversy as the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and a minister in Pakistan’s government. The ACC later held internal discussions to resolve the issue.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
