Asia Cup 2025: Indian fans mock Haris Rauf with 'Kohli-Kohli' chants, he responds with controversial gesture

Published - 22 Sept 2025, 11:06 IST | Updated - 22 Sept 2025, 11:06 IST

The India–Pakistan rivalry once again spilled beyond the cricket field during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash in Dubai on Sunday, September 21. This time, the spotlight was firmly on Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf, who found himself in a dramatic duel not just with the Indian batters, but also with the crowd at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India comfortably outclassed Pakistan by six wickets, but the narrative extended far beyond the scoreboard. Every time Rauf patrolled the boundary ropes, chants of ‘Kohli, Kohli” thundered around the stands. The taunts served as a stinging reminder of Virat Kohli’s unforgettable heroics against the speedster during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne, when the batter launched two stunning sixes off Rauf in the penultimate over, moments still etched as iconic in the rivalry’s history.

Initially, Rauf responded playfully by cupping his ear, inviting the fans to get louder. However, the exchanges soon escalated. At one point, he gestured provocatively with a fighter-jet motion, a clip that quickly went viral on social media and sparked outrage. Many interpreted the act as a reference to Pakistan’s controversial claims of downing Indian jets in the past, further inflaming the already heated contest.

On the field, Rauf delivered a fiery spell, finishing with 2/26 in four overs, troubling India’s middle order and keeping the game alive. He was also involved in verbal exchanges with Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill during the chase, prompting umpires to step in. Despite his intensity, Rauf could not prevent Pakistan from succumbing to another defeat.

India batters engage in war of words with Haris Rauf

For India, it was the batters who let their willow do the talking, as Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 74 off 39 balls, studded with six boundaries and five sixes, alongside Gill’s fluent 47 off 28, in a blistering 105-run opening stand led India's chase in style. The partnership took all the pressure off the middle order, making the target of 172 appear modest. Later, Tilak Varma sealed the chase with an unbeaten 30, as India wrapped up the contest in 18.5 overs.