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India versus Pakistan rivalry is not just limited to the cricket field, but the recent activities have made it even bigger, especially after the Pahalgam terror attacks in April 2025. However, the Indian Armed Forces did gave a fiery reply with Operation Sindoor, which aimed at dismantling the terror groups in Pakistan, it has hit the sports field off late.
With India having locked horns with Pakistan twice so far in the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, players from the Pakistan cricket team were seen bringing in controversial 6-0 and jet crash gestures. However, it didn’t stay limited to the cricket field as an under-17 footballer from Pakistan also emulated Haris Rauf’s gestures despite his side’s defeat against India in SAFF U-17 Championships.
No competition only, so there is no point about talking about it: Hardik Singh on IND vs PAK rivalry
Although, the cricketing fraternity took stringent action on the gestures made, recently, veteran Indian hockey player and the vice-captain of the side, Hardik Singh brought up this gesture while speaking of their rivals and near neighbours. Addressing the audience at the Indian Today Mumbai Conclave 2025, when asked of India’s rivalry against Pakistan in hockey, he said, "I think that right now there is no competition only, so there is no point about talking about it.”
“There is no doubt in the widening gap. Because the way things are going these days, I think it is not there only,” Hardik continued while making the controversial gesture which is being made by several Pakistan athletes across sports, claiming that the Pakistan army downed six Indian jets during the four-day scuffle after Operation Sindoor.
Watch video of Hardik Singh mocking at Pakistan hockey team:
Not only this, the Indian midfielder also spoke at length of the reason behind the downfall of Pakistan hockey, claiming lack of facilities as the reason behind it. "I think their federation. I think their athletes are quite good, but they are not getting facilities. Like in 2014, they had won against us the last time. Since 2014, Pakistan has not won against India in hockey. Sir, 2014. So I think that in the last what, like twelve years? Yes we didn’t lose a match," Hardik asserted.
