IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal Hails Team India’s Asia Cup Win; Reiterates ‘Country Comes First’ On Pakistan Ties

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal hailed India’s dominant Asia Cup triumph, calling them the best T20 team worldwide. He praised the Men in Blue for maintaining the world number 1 spot in T20 cricket through consistent, dominant performances.

“Reaching the top is very easy, but maintaining that position is a very difficult task”, Dhumal added.

He gave special credit to Suryakumar Yadav and the squad, who he said played “outstanding cricket” throughout the entire tournament.

He added that India’s talent pool remains unmatched and deserves both national appreciation and global respect.

On the possibility of a future India-Pakistan bilateral series, Dhumal made the BCCI’s stance crystal clear and unwavering. “The Government of India decides that we fully support it. For BCCI, the nation comes first, cricket after,” he clarified.

He emphasised that the hype around India-Pakistan cricket is now ‘exaggerated’ and doesn’t reflect today’s competitive realities.

“Earlier, Pakistan had icons like Akram OR Shoaib. Today, many fans can’t even name 24 Pakistani players,” he noted.

Dhumal stated that matches against teams like England, Australia, or New Zealand are far more intense and evenly contested.

“Media creates extra hype due to strained relations—but on-field, those matches aren’t as fierce anymore,” he explained confidently.

He acknowledged that past controversies strained cricketing ties but stressed that moving forward constructively is the best approach. Praising India’s depth, Dhumal asserted that even India’s second-string teams could challenge the world’s top cricketing nations effectively.

“No other nation has such a wide, talented player base across all formats. That’s India’s true sporting strength,” he stated.

He called for fans to celebrate this achievement rather than fixating on the narrative surrounding historic rivalries or hype. Dhumal concluded by congratulating the team again and encouraging all to value India’s rise through hard work and discipline.

Also Read: BCCI Confronts Mohsin Naqvi Over Asia Cup Trophy Controversy At ACC Meeting