Tension in Indian camp? Heated post-match scenes between Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav spark concern

Despite the comfortable victory against Pakistan on Sunday, a tense post-match moment triggered talk of friction within the Indian camp.

Updated on: Feb 16, 2026, 09:50:57 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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India secured another routine win against Pakistan as the arch-rivals proved no match for the defending champions in the high-voltage T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo. For the eighth time in nine meetings between the two sides in T20 World Cup history, India defeated Pakistan, this time by a commanding 61 runs. It was the second-biggest defeat margin for Pakistan in the tournament’s history, as Suryakumar Yadav’s men sealed qualification for the Super Eight stage in emphatic fashion.

Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh after India's win against Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo (AFP)

However, despite the comfortable victory, a tense post-match moment triggered talk of friction within the Indian camp. Hardik Pandya and captain Suryakumar Yadav were seen animatedly confronting teammate Kuldeep Yadav on the field immediately after the final wicket fell.

In a video circulating widely on social media, Hardik appeared visibly upset during the customary handshakes. As the players lined up after the India vs Pakistan game, Hardik had a go at Kuldeep, gesturing emphatically. Tilak Varma looked concerned as the exchange unfolded, while Rinku Singh quickly stepped in, seemingly attempting to diffuse the tension between the teammates.

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Shortly after, when Kuldeep approached Suryakumar also appeared to give him a stern talking-to, adding fuel to speculation of tension following the Pakistan win.

The frustration likely stemmed from a dropped catch by Kuldeep in the final over of Pakistan’s chase. The incident occurred in the same over in which Pakistan eventually lost their last wicket.

On the second ball of Hardik’s over, Shaheen Afridi stepped forward and pulled a short delivery towards long-on. Positioned near the boundary rope at the R Premadasa Stadium, Kuldeep settled under the ball and got both hands to it. However, the ball slipped through his fingers and carried over the boundary cushion for six, extending Pakistan’s innings briefly.

Hardik reacted instantly, clearly frustrated by the missed opportunity, and was seen uttering a few expletives in Hindi in the heat of the moment.

Nevertheless, the all-rounder ensured the over ended on a positive note for India. On the final ball, he bowled a fuller delivery that Usman Tariq failed to get in line with. The ball crashed into middle stump, sealing Pakistan’s innings and completing a dominant win for India.

The victory marked India’s eighth triumph over Pakistan in T20 World Cup history — the most by any team against a single opponent in the competition. With qualification to the Super Eight secured, India now turn their attention to their final Group A match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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