'Operation Sindoor on field': Modi's tweet draws criticism from Congress
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian cricket team for their Asia Cup 2025 victory over Pakistan. The team won by five wickets in Dubai, with Tilak Varma scoring an unbeaten 69 to anchor India's chase of 147 runs. PM Modi's message on X (formerly Twitter) read, "#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same - India wins! Congrats to our cricketers."
Twitter Post
PM Modi's congratulatory post
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
Outcome is the same - India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
Congress
'We should have played with sportsman spirit'
The Congress quickly reacted to Modi's tweet, questioning if the PM has any knowledge of foreign policy and diplomacy. "Sometimes I doubt if PM Modi has any knowledge of foreign policy and diplomacy. If we played, we should have played with sportsman spirit. If Operation Sindoor is ongoing, then we shouldn't have played," Maharashtra Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil told news agency ANI.
Symbolic win
Amit Shah also praised the team's performance
The Asia Cup was the first cricketing encounter between India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam attack and "Operation Sindoor." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also praised the team's performance, writing, "A phenomenal victory. The fierce energy of our boys blew up the rivals again. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya also congratulated the Indian cricket team while taking a jibe at Pakistan. "Lost on the border, lost in the field too," he wrote on X.
Match highlights
Varma's innings and Kuldeep's bowling seal the win
The match saw India struggling at 20/3 and later 77/4 before Varma's innings turned the tide. He shared a crucial partnership with Shivam Dube (33) to take India home. The final over was tense as India needed 10 runs from six balls, but Rinku Singh hit a boundary to seal the win. Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav's brilliant bowling (4/30) had restricted Pakistan to 146 runs after they looked set for a big score at one stage.
Political context
Political tensions
The match was marred by political tensions, with no handshakes exchanged at the toss or after the game. After the win, Team India reportedly refused to accept the trophy at the post-match presentation. The coveted trophy was set to be presented by Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman. However, Indian players maintained a strict 'no handshake, no off-field engagement' policy with anyone representing Pakistan. Naqvi walked away with the trophy after the Indian team refused to accept it.