Indian cricketers are under fire after sharing photos online featuring what appeared to be a \u201cfake trophy,\u201d just hours after the Men in Blue refused to accept the official Asia Cup 2025 silverware. The move sparked widespread mockery, with many questioning why the players posed with a digitally added replica instead of the real prize raising doubts about what exactly they were celebrating. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, along with Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma and others, posted images on social media where a trophy sticker had been edited into the photos. The posts quickly drew backlash. Fans ridiculed the stunt, noting the irony of refusing the real trophy from ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi while celebrating with a fake one online. One user quipped: \u201cAnother fake trophy\u2026 just like the fake \u2018Op Sindoor\u2019 glory. Shine outside, hollow inside.\u201d A defence analyst wrote: \u201cFrom the delusional cricket team celebrating imaginary trophies, to the delusional Air Force Chief, and the delusional government cheering like a cartoon India truly lives in an alternate reality. Hilarious!\u201d Meanwhile, an Indian journalist commented: \u201cSuryakumar Yadav may keep up the posturing, but he\u2019ll have to accept that, despite being a star cricketer and India\u2019s captain, he was reduced to a political pawn at the government\u2019s whim.\u201d Asia Cup trophy debacle The closing ceremony of the ACC Men\u2019s T20 Asia Cup 2025 ended in controversy on Sunday after the Men in Blue declined to collect the winners\u2019 trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). India earlier defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a tense final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, the post-match presentation was delayed after the Indian side refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, damaging the gentleman\u2019s game. The ceremony concluded without the traditional handover, marking an unusual end to the tournament. No customary handshakes were exchanged between players, continuing a pattern from earlier matches where political undercurrents and heightened tensions were evident. “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation,” presenter Simon Doull said. Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said India’s actions during the tournament had been “bad for cricket”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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