New Delhi, Sep 14: As India prepares to face arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, the off-field tension has spilled into the dressing room. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has stepped in to stabilize the squad and refocus their mindset ahead of the high-stakes encounter.

With most of the players in the team being young and extensive users of social media, the 'boycott calls' for the match have reportedly made them quite nervous.

The boycott calls, sparked by public outrage following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, have gained momentum online, with hashtags like #BoycottINDvPAK and #BoycottAsiaCup trending across platforms.

Many fans and political voices have questioned India’s participation in the match, despite the government’s stance permitting play in multinational tournaments.

Following this, head coach Gautam Gambhir and other members of the support staff held a talk on how to handle the situation better, as per the reports.

The tensions in the dressing room became evident as the management decided to send assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate to the match press conference on Saturday.

The Indian squad is expected to take the field tonight at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM IST. Despite the emotional backdrop, the team is focused on delivering a performance that reflects both professionalism and national pride.