Throughout the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian cricket team made headlines by refusing to shake hands with Pakistani players. The choice first got here into sharp view following their group stage win, when skipper Suryakumar Yadav didn’t exchange pleasantries with Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha.
The identical gesture—or moderately, the absence of it—was repeated in the next meetings between the 2 nations. This alternative by India was rooted in political tensions that flared up after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Australia’s Response: Banter and Mockery Before the ODI Series
With the India-Australia ODI series looming, players from Australia (each men and girls) took the chance to mock India’s handshake policy via a video produced by Kayo Sports. Anchors within the video joke that “Everyone knows India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness,” followed by, “We all know that they’re not huge fans of the normal greeting (handshake), so we will throw them off before we’ve even bowled a ball.”
Among the many Australian players involved within the video are Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, and others. For instance, Marsh imitates Travis Head’s “finger within the ice cup” move; Hazlewood quips, “What concerning the shooter?” and Molineux raises her hands before flashing a blurred gesture—widely understood as middle fingers—to mock the no-handshake policy.
Reactions & Significance: More Than Just Pre-Match Banter
Although the video is styled as light-hearted content, many feel it’s greater than harmless jest. Critics argue that mocking a gesture meant to indicate solidarity with terrorism victims crosses a line, turning what was a political/symbolic stance into fodder for psychological games.
For its part, India’s handshake refusal was never only a sporting decision—it was imbued with meaning, as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent geopolitical strife including “Operation Sindoor.”
Because the ODI series approaches (starting October 19 in Australia), the mockery from Australia seems calculated to unsettle, however it also adds tension and raises questions on sportsmanship. Whether this episode will influence on-field performances stays to be seen.
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