Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has announced that he will donate his entire match fee from the Asia Cup 2025 to the Indian Army. The 34-year-old batter made the pledge after leading India to their ninth continental title in Dubai, where the Men in Blue defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in a thrilling final on Sunday.
“I personally want to give all my match fee from this tournament to the Indian Army,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation ceremony. His gesture quickly drew praise from fans and former cricketers, with many calling it a true example of leadership and respect for the armed forces.
The Asia Cup final, however, was followed by a major controversy. India declined to accept the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The move left many stunned, and Suryakumar addressed the matter during the press conference.
“I think this is one thing that I have never seen since I started playing cricket, since I started following cricket, that a champion team is denied to get a trophy. That too, a hard-earned one… I feel we deserved it and I can’t say anything more,” Yadav remarked.
He further added that for him and his players, the true reward was already in the dressing room. “My trophies are sitting in my dressing room. All the 14 guys with me, all the support staff, those are the real trophies. I have been a big fan of them throughout this Asia Cup journey. Those are the real trophies, the real moments, which I’m taking back as lovely memories that will stay with me forever,” the skipper said.
Explaining the collective call taken by the squad, Suryakumar clarified: “We as a team decided not to take the trophy [from Mohsin Naqvi]. Nobody told us individually. But I feel a team that wins the tournament deserves the trophy.”
With this victory, India extended their record by clinching the Asia Cup for the ninth time.
Shivam Verma is a journalist with over three years of experience in digital newsrooms. He currently works at NewsX, having previously worked for Firstpost and DNA India. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football—both playing and watching—and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
