Hardik Pandya's hilarious answer to Pak journo on why India didn't travel to Pakistan: 'Above my pay grade'

India on Sunday created history when they beat New Zealand to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. India won the final by 4 wickets and thus became the most successful team in the tournament’s history with three titles under their belt.

Rohit Sharma played a brilliant knock to help his team chase down 252 runs with ease, while the spinners did their job in the first innings by picking up five wickets between them and keeping the scoreboard in check.

Hardik Pandya’s witty reply steals the show

After the match, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, known for his cheeky responses, grabbed attention when he responded to a Pakistani journalist’s query about why India didn’t travel to Pakistan for the tournament.

During the post-match press conference following India’s thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final, a Pakistani journalist asked Pandya why the Indian team had chosen not to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Pandya, in his trademark style, quipped:

“I am sure Pakistani people living in Dubai must have enjoyed our performance. The question of why we didn’t go is way above my pay grade.” His response, said with a smile, brought laughter to the room and went viral on social media.

The question stemmed from India’s decision to play all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the UAE instead of traveling to Pakistan, the official host of the tournament. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan citing security concerns and political tensions. As a result, a hybrid model was adopted, with India playing its games in Dubai and other teams competing in Pakistan.

This was similar to the arrangement for the 2023 Asia Cup, where India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka while Pakistan retained hosting rights. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it will not send its teams to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup and will instead opt to play its matches at a neutral venue.