Varun Chakravarthy's Playful Remarks on Asia Cup Trophy Controversy

Chakravarthy's Comments on Trophy Dispute

Indian cricketer Varun Chakravarthy recently took a light-hearted jab at the chief of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Mohsin Naqvi, regarding the Asia Cup trophy not being awarded to Team India following their victory. He emphasized that while the trophy might be missing, the title of 'champions' rightfully belongs to India. Chakravarthy shared these thoughts during an episode of Gaurav Kapur's well-known web series, 'Breakfast with Champions.'

Post-Match Drama After India's Victory

After defeating Pakistan in a nail-biting final in Dubai, the Indian squad declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also holds the position of Pakistan's Interior Minister. This led to a chaotic scene during the post-match presentation, where an official unexpectedly removed the Asia Cup trophy from its display without any explanation.

Celebrations Amidst Controversy

Despite the trophy debacle, the Indian players celebrated their win with great enthusiasm. Captain Suryakumar Yadav humorously imitated former captain Rohit Sharma's famous slow walk from the 2024 T20 World Cup final, pretending to lift an imaginary trophy alongside his teammates. Naqvi later suggested that India could retrieve the trophy from the ACC office if they wished.

Chakravarthy Reflects on the Team's Confidence

During the show, Varun expressed his confidence in the team's abilities, stating, 'It felt good; I was certain we would win all our matches. We are the number one team in the world. The cup can be taken away, but we are champions.'

The 'Coffee Cup' Celebration Explained

Chakravarthy also addressed his Instagram post featuring a coffee cup, which he shared after the title win. He had initially intended to post a picture of himself with the trophy but opted for the coffee cup instead, as the trophy was not presented to the team. He humorously noted, 'I had planned everything, but after the match, there was nothing next to me—just a coffee cup. So I went with it.'

A Nod to Past Incidents

The coffee cup gesture was perceived as a subtle response to Pakistani social media users who previously remarked, 'Tea is fantastic,' referencing the 2019 Abhinandan incident. This comment stemmed from a post by Pakistani journalist Anwar Lodhi, who shared a photo of a mannequin of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, captured during a dogfight, suggesting it would be amusing if the mannequin held a cup of 'fantastic tea.'