Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev strongly criticized the Indian team and cricket board for bringing politics into the sport. He spoke after India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Dev said players should focus on the game and avoid political behavior. He stressed that when the government has allowed teams to play, shaking hands should not be a big issue.
Kapil Dev gave these remarks during an interview with India Today. He emphasized that both media and players must keep sports separate from politics. According to him, media should report everything, but athletes should concentrate on the game. He said ignoring sportsmanship for politics damages the spirit of the game.
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The controversy began during the group stage match between India and Pakistan. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. He repeated this behavior after the match, drawing criticism from fans and former players alike.
Tensions escalated after the final, when the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The team celebrated without the trophy and medals, causing a long delay in the post-match ceremony. Suryakumar Yadav later claimed it was a decision made by players on the field.
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Kapil Dev is not the only critic of this behavior. Former cricketer and commentator Ravi Shastri also slammed the Indian team. He called their actions disgraceful and said they kept fans waiting during a 45-minute delay. Both legends urged Indian players to focus on cricket and maintain respect on the international stage.