India and Pakistan met for the second time in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours, and the storyline once again favored the Men in Blue. India outclassed their rivals with a six-wicket win, continuing their dominance in the tournament. The star of the night was Abhishek Sharma, who dazzled with a fiery 74-run innings that earned him the Player of the Match award. His knock ensured India cruised comfortably in what was expected to be a tense contest.
While India’s cricketing brilliance shone through, the clash was once again overshadowed by off-field controversies and heated gestures. The already sensitive atmosphere between the two teams has been tense since the earlier league-stage game, when Indian players walked off without shaking hands with the Pakistan squad. That incident fueled debates and amplified the political undertones of the rivalry.
The rematch in Dubai carried that tension forward. During the high-voltage encounter, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was caught on camera making a controversial gesture towards Indian fans. The act appeared to mimic a plane crash, instantly sparking outrage among spectators and viewers.
MEET THIS JOKER HARIS RAUF 🤡
— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) September 22, 2025
– Got f*cked by Kohli in front of 1 lakh people
– Mocked Rohit’s body language got punished left, right & centre in India
– Now dragging politics into cricket
– This Shameless MDC has zero self respect 🤡
pic.twitter.com/FiPlUOrsPF
The clip of Rauf’s gesture spread like wildfire across social media platforms. Many Indian fans and neutral observers alike criticized the act as distasteful and insensitive, especially given the tragic context that such symbolism could evoke. The backlash was swift, with calls for disciplinary action circulating online.
Arshdeep cooked rauf and we didn't even notice…😭😭pic.twitter.com/IO8bIf8RZl
— B̷O̷D̷Y̷G̷U̷A̷R̷D̷ (@kohli_goat) September 23, 2025
For India, however, the controversy did little to dampen the joy of another dominant victory. The focus remained on Abhishek Sharma’s heroics and the team’s growing momentum in the Asia Cup. Yet, Rauf’s gesture has now become one of the defining talking points of the match, ensuring that the off-field narrative continues to fuel the ever-intense India–Pakistan rivalry.
Another clip has now gone viral, this time featuring India’s pacer Arshdeep Singh. Following the conclusion of the India-Pakistan Super Four clash, Arshdeep was spotted gesturing towards the crowd—shaping an aeroplane with his fingers and then crashing it down to the ground.