'Would like to see that we...': Kapil Dev calls out overhype after India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final drama

Cricketing legend Kapil Dev believes that the focus should remain on cricket rather than politics after the controversial Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 drama

India and Pakistan featured in the Asia Cup final against each other for the first time in the history of the tournament, where the Suryakumar Yadav-led side defeated the Men in Green by five wickets to win the title. However, the drama unfolded when India refused to take the trophy from Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Asian Cricket Council. India's refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi delayed and shortened the presentation ceremony and the Men in Blue celebrated their win on the field without the official awards.

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Kapil Dev's take on Asia Cup 2025 drama

Kapil, who guided India to the ICC World Cup in 1983, said that as a sportsperson, he would prefer cricket to remain purely a game, free from political interference.

“I just want to say — your responsibility, and responsibility for the entire media also we should look into the sports side rather than looking into the politics side. Yes, media has the responsibility to bring everything on the table, but as a sportsman, I would like to see that we should stick to sports. It will be much better,” Kapil Dev said in an exclusive interview with India Today.

Kapil Dev on Pakistan Cricket downfall

Kapil Dev also admitted that Pakistan no longer has a player with the kind of talent they once boasted in the 1980s and 1990s, when legends like Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, and Zaheer Abbas dominated cricket.

“Yeah, I think they don’t have the similar talent they used to have in the ’80s, ’90s or before that. Pakistan has given us, to the world, one of the best cricketers. You can talk about Imran Khan, you can talk about Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis. They have given us that talent. But unfortunately, we can’t see similar talent today — not even one per cent of what they used to have,” Kapil Dev added.

Coming back to the Asia Cup 2025 final, Pakistan were off to a good start as their openers stitched an 84-run stand for the second wicket, but India made a comeback as they collapsed before making a competitive total. They lost nine wickets for just 33 runs and finished at 146 in 19.1 overs. India, despite losing three early wickets, chased down the target with two balls to spare.