India responds to Haris Rauf & Sahibzada Farhan’s gestures: “That's not our concern”

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate praises team composure after Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s controversial celebrations in Asia Cup 2025.

Team India (Image Credit: BCCI)

The high-voltage India–Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four wasn’t just about runs and wickets, it was also about restraint in the face of provocation. While India sealed a six-wicket win, the bigger takeaway came from how they handled heated moments sparked by Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan.

Farhan raised eyebrows with a “gun-firing” celebration after his half-century, a gesture many felt was insensitive. Not long after, Rauf added fuel by signaling towards the stands with symbolic gestures, interpreted as mocking or taunting. Such moments could easily have unsettled even an experienced side, but India’s openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill kept their focus intact, constructing a calm and composed 105-run opening stand that set the platform for victory.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate later reflected on the situation. He admitted it “would have been easy to lose our minds,” but credited the players for blocking out distractions and sticking to cricket. His comments highlighted the importance of emotional control in high-pressure encounters where rivalry often pushes players to the edge.

Watch the Asia Cup 2025 online

"Let me just say, the amount of pressure that's been heaped on the players because of the situation, it's very difficult to control their behaviour. I did see some of the things Haris did, and, you know, that's not our concern. Like I said earlier, we're really proud of how the guys carried themselves, you know, they were on fire with their bats on the field. You know, how the teams showed their ambitions," Ryan ten Doeschate told reporters on Tuesday.

Team India choose discipline over drama

What stood out most was not the controversy itself but India’s measured response. Instead of responding with similar gestures or heated exchanges, the players let their performance do the talking. This not only ensured the momentum stayed with India but also reinforced a culture of discipline within the squad.

Also read: Former cricketer flags concerns over Jasprit Bumrah’s full tosses in IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025

In games where emotions run high, such composure can prove decisive. Abhishek’s crisp strokeplay and Gill’s controlled innings embodied the team’s approach, calm, clinical, and unaffected by noise outside the boundary ropes. By focusing on execution rather than confrontation, India showcased maturity that often separates champions from contenders.

Share