India, Oct. 1 -- India pacer Umesh Yadav has lauded Team India's Asia Cup victory, calling their unbeaten run "a proud moment" for the nation. Speaking about the emphatic victory over Pakistan, Umesh says the ongoing chatter around the trophy was irrelevant compared to the team's sportsmanship through the tournament. "With or without the trophy in hand, the team's spirit of victory deserves to be celebrated. The trophy is a symbol, but the real reward is in the achievement, the collective effort, and the pride of the nation," he tells us. A controversial post-match ceremony and reports that Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi retained the trophy cast a bit of a shadow over the win. However, Umesh asserts that the off-field drama did little to take away from the Indian squad's performance. "The external distractions and theatrics surrounding India-Pakistan matches are sadly inevitable these days, but our players were wise enough to focus only on the job at hand," he adds. Reflecting on the tournament, the 37-year-old also notes the way different players stepped up at crucial junctures. "Abhishek Sharma's blazing starts added momentum, while Kuldeep Yadav's smart bowling spells consistently strangled the opposition. But what thrills me most is not just individual brilliance, but how they've gelled as a unit across stages," he muses, heaping praise on Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson. "They rose to the moment in the chase - anchoring India home under serious pressure," he says. As for India skipper Suryakumar Yadav's leadership, Umesh says, "Surya Kumar has shown tremendous tactical acumen. His captaincy style is dynamic and inclusive, yet decisive - exactly what a modern T20 side needs. Under his guidance, this squad is not only in strong hands but heading toward even greater heights."...