NEW DELHI: Team India was deprived of the chance to lift the Asia Cup trophy after the players refused to accept it from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, owing to his anti-India stance. The situation worsened when Naqvi, who also serves as the PCB chief, insisted on personally handing over the silverware.

A video showing officials taking the Asia Cup trophy away from the presentation area at Naqvi's behest soon went viral on social media. However, that didn't stop the Indian players from celebrating in their own way - they lifted an imaginary trophy on the field and later shared AI-generated images of the trophy on their social media handles.

In an exclusive chat with Sports Yaari, India wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma opened up about the viral "digital trophy" moment after the Asia Cup, and how Arshdeep Singh has mastered the art of balancing cricket with content creation.

After helping India clinch the Asia Cup title, the team's celebrations took a hilarious twist. Fans were left amused - and slightly confused - when Jitesh and Arshdeep were seen holding an AI-generated trophy instead of the real one. The clip instantly went viral, sparking a flood of memes.

Laughing while recalling the moment, Jitesh said, "Honestly, I didn't get any clarity on stage. There was some communication happening, and I was just saying 'yes, yes,' while enjoying with Arsh. I was celebrating with Sanju Bhai and the others. I don't know what the administration was doing, and I didn't think much about it. My focus was on having fun with my friends - that's all that mattered."

Sports Yaari Exclusive: Jitesh Sharma reveals his ultimate finisher - and it's not Dhoni, Rohit, or Kohli

But if you thought Jitesh was behind the AI trophy prank, think again. The man responsible was none other than Arshdeep Singh, who Jitesh calls a "pure-hearted entertainer."

"It was Arsh's idea!" Jitesh revealed with a grin. "He told Surya Bhai that since the trophy wasn't coming, what if we just celebrate with a digital one? That's exactly what he did - and people loved it. The post that went viral was all Arsh's doing."

Over the last few years, Jitesh and Arshdeep have built a strong friendship - both on and off the field. Having played together for Punjab Kings in the IPL, the duo share a bond filled with laughter, honesty, and mutual respect.

youtube thumb

"I've known Arsh for three years now - we played together at Punjab Kings," Jitesh said. "He's like my younger brother. I love that he's brutally honest. If I do something wrong, he'll scold me right to my face and explain it. And if I do something good, he'll praise me in front of everyone. I really value that."

For Jitesh, what makes Arshdeep special is not just his swing or yorkers, but his ability to switch seamlessly between fun and focus.

"Arsh has become a full-on content creator now," Jitesh laughed. "But the best thing about him is that he knows exactly when to switch on and off. Off the field, he's so jolly that people might think he's not serious. But the moment he gets the ball in his hand - you see a completely different person. The focus, the control - it's incredible."