The high-voltage India vs Pakistan match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons, and Suryakumar Yadav was the man who fueled the fire. India’s crushing seven-wicket win over Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai became more about controversy than cricket.
While Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav impressed with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls, it was his decision to skip the traditional handshake that sparked outrage. The Indian players also backed their captain’s decision and refused to have any interaction with them after the match in Dubai.
Umar Gul blasts Pakistan’s poor strategy against Suryakumar Yadav
After the incident, the Indian players have been criticized heavily by the former Pakistani players. Amidst the controversy over the handshake, the former Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul has shifted focus to the national team’s poor strategy and performance against India in the Asia Cup 2025 clash.
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Gul has openly criticized the Pakistan cricket team management for failing to make a plan to tackle Suryakumar Yadav. He said that Pakistan seemed clueless, with no clear strategy to counter India’s batting powerhouse. Gul even said that if they don’t trust pacer Faheem Ashraf, they should at least trust the analysts in the dressing room.
Even Google knows how to unsettle Suryakumar Yadav: Umar Gul
Umar Gul also shared a lighthearted moment with his son. The commentator said that he was watching the match with his son, who had Googled Suryakumar’s weakness. His son mentioned that Suryakumar often struggles against pace deliveries outside the fifth and sixth stumps, but Pakistan had opted for spin instead, which highlighted their lack of preparation.
Umar Gul said on the ‘Game on Hain’ show, “Shoaib Bhai (Shoaib Akhtar), let me tell you something interesting. I was watching the match with my son. When Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat, my son said, ‘Dad, I just searched on Google, and it says that he usually gets out in front of pace bowlers around the fifth and sixth stump.’ But here, they have put a spinner instead. My son was telling me this, but the team management is not aware of this. Even Google knows how to unsettle Suryakumar, but Pakistani bowlers don’t.”
Google can’t become a coach: Shoaib Malik
The funny exchange didn’t end there. The former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who was also part of the discussion, humorously said that Google knows everything but can’t replace a coach, leaving everyone in splits. Malik said, “But Guli, Google can’t become a coach.”
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Notably, Umar Gul has represented Pakistan in 47 Test matches, 130 One Day Internationals, and 60 T20 Internationals in his career. The fast bowler took 163 wickets in 90 Test innings at an average of 34.07. Also, Gul has 179 wickets in 128 ODI innings at an average of 29.36 and 85 wickets in 60 T20 innings at an average of 16.96 to his name.
Speaking about the match, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bat first after winning the toss, but they could manage only 129 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. In response, India played aggressively and chased down the target in just 15.5 overs, losing only 3 wickets and securing a 7-wicket victory.
