Dubai: India and Pakistan captains — Suryakumar Yadav and his opposite number Salman Ali Agha — stayed away from cordial exchanges at the toss, skipping the customary handshake as well. It summed up the mood in the Indian camp, as the usually ever-smiling Surya, who turned 35 on Sunday, looked uncharacteristically sombre. Both captains turned on their heels and walked away without acknowledging each other, setting the tone for a contest that felt more intense than usual. Salman won the toss and opted to bat first, with both sides going unchanged for the marquee clash. The teams warmed up in their separate corners and, unlike previous meetings, there were no friendly exchanges between players or support staff — just focused drills and quiet determination. “Can’t ignore what’s happening around us,” Pakistan coach Mike Hesson told the official broadcaster before the game, hinting at the tension hanging over this fixture. The mercury hovered around 40°C with the ‘real-feel’ closer to 44, adding to the challenge of an already high-pressure evening. In stark contrast, the atmosphere in the stands was buoyant. Fans from both countries sat shoulder to shoulder, waving flags, chanting slogans, and dancing to the music belted out by the DJ as the Dubai Stadium slowly filled up. With a capacity of 24,200, nearly 22,000 fans were in by the time the first ball was bowled — enough to generate a deafening roar every time a player appeared on the big screen. Dubai’s Events Security Committee reminded spectators to respect the rules, arrive early, and uphold sportsmanship. The warning was clear: pitch invasions, carrying banned items, or abusive behaviour could attract fines between Dh5,000–30,000 and up to three months in prison. The message only heightened the sense that this was no ordinary night — this was a high-stakes occasion where every move, on and off the field, would be under scrutiny. There was no interaction between the players after the game ended too. As India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets, the not out batters Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube walked off without having any exchange with the Pakistan players. Some of them even went near the Indian dressing room to congratulate them, but none of the players came out.
