India-Pakistan U19 final: why did Suryavanshi point to his shoe?

WEB DESK: It seems that the U19 Indian cricket team is learning all the terrible manners well from the seniors as batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi displayed rude ‘shoe pointing’ reaction to Ali Raza after he took a wicket during the finals in Dubai on Sunday. The Indian cricket team has been refusing to even shake hands with Pakistani counterparts after India faced defeat during the May escalation this year.

Batting first at the ICC Academy, Pakistan U19 posted a daunting total, powered by a sensational century from Sameer Minhas. The right-hander smashed 172 off 113 balls, peppering the boundary with authority and putting India under immense pressure in the final. India’s reply began on a shaky note as Ayush Mhatre fell early for a mere two runs, leaving the chase resting heavily on the shoulders of 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The youngster initially rose to the occasion, playing fearlessly and racing to 26 off just nine balls, including a four and three towering sixes. His aggressive intent briefly swung momentum India’s way.

However, the turning point came when Suryavanshi failed to read the match situation. With India wobbling after another quick wicket, the teenager attempted an ill-judged attacking shot on the very next delivery, edging the ball faintly to be dismissed by Pakistan pacer Ali Raza. The reckless stroke drew criticism from fans, given the mounting pressure and the need for composure at the crease.

What followed after the dismissal sparked controversy. As Suryavanshi began walking back to the pavilion, he appeared visibly irritated by Ali Raza’s celebration. Instead of moving on, the Indian batter turned around and exchanged heated words with the Pakistani bowler. He was also seen making a dismissive hand gesture, pointing towards Ali Raza and then motioning downwards, a move widely interpreted as disrespectful and provocative.

Although the moment did not escalate further and no physical confrontation occurred, the exchange left a sour taste and quickly drew backlash on social media, with many calling out the behaviour as unnecessary and unbecoming, particularly in a junior-level final.

The incident also cast a shadow over Suryavanshi’s otherwise impressive tournament. He had earlier announced himself with a blistering 171 against UAE and followed it up with a half-century versus Malaysia. However, his form dipped in the knockout stages, with low scores against Sri Lanka and now Pakistan.

At the time of the incident, Pakistan were firmly in control, while India found themselves reeling at 63 for four inside eight overs, a reflection of both the scoreboard pressure and rising tempers on the field.