India ko chhorna mat: Haris Rauf reacts as Pakistan fan pleads for win ahead of Asia Cup final

The upcoming Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan has resulted in many stirring emotions, with fans from both parts deeply awaiting the esteemed clash. Not only is this rivalry fueled by cricketing pride, but there also lingered some geopolitical tensions and Pakistan's recent defeats at the hands of India.

Fan interaction goes viral

After Pakistan snatched a semifinal win against Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the pacer Haris Rauf had an interaction with the fans, shaking hands with and greeting supporters. A viral video shows one particularly passionate fan holding Rauf's hand, pleading: "Badla lena hain. India ko chhorna nahi hain. Khuda ka vasta!!!" ("We want revenge. Don't spare India, for God's sake!"). Rauf is seen consoling the fan before moving on.

The Gloomy Backdrop

The India-Pakistan encounters are always pressure-filled, but the Asia Cup final should surpass earlier clashes in terms of intensity. Instability first emerged during the group stage after calls were made to boycott the opening match on account of geopolitical issues arising from the Pahalgam incident. The situation worsened when the Indian team declined to shake hands after the match, maintaining that attitude to the deep aggravation of the Pakistan side.

Nonetheless, the Pakistan side kept on with the tournament, once again facing India's team in the Super Four stage. Under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, the team put up a better fight but was again defeated. The hapless incidents involving Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were seen by Pakistani fans as some questionable, perhaps political, strategies just to mentally disturb their Indian rivals.

Now, a few fiery comments have been made by Suryakumar Yadav to continue growing the rift further.

Following India’s Super Four win, Suryakumar Yadav said, “There is no rivalry now.” The captain, trying to calm tensions, instead fueled frustrations among Pakistan supporters—a feeling they wanted to see finally appeased in the final. Social media erupted with statistics detailing Pakistan’s past glories, thus heightening nationalistic sentiment and awkward urgency amongst its supporters.

Haris’ tirade at the spectator offers a glimpse of the excitement that has gone into this India-Pakistan final. For many supporters, the rivalry matters as much as the trophy, making this clash one of the most anticipated matches in cricket recently.