Social media buzzed with speculation: would the India and Bangladesh cricket teams forego the traditional post-match handshakes after their Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai? Rumors were quickly put to rest by an on-the-ground photo. The image confirmed that players from both sides graciously lined up and exchanged handshakes following India’s dominant 41-run victory, upholding the spirit of sportsmanship.
This wave of concern wasn’t unfounded. Earlier in the tournament, India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, had twice notably omitted the handshake with Pakistan’s Salman Agha – once in the group stage and again in the Super Four match. On those occasions, Surya chose to greet only match officials, sparking widespread discussion about India’s post-match customs with other rival teams.
However, the Dubai match saw a return to established protocols. At the toss, Surya shook hands with Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Jaker Ali, and after the final ball, both squads observed the customary post-match handshakes. These scenes of mutual respect served as a powerful reminder that despite the intense rivalry on the pitch, a healthy and respectful relationship endures between the Indian and Bangladeshi teams.
Turning to the action on the field, India’s commanding journey to the Asia Cup final was largely orchestrated by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive innings. He smashed a blistering 75 runs off just 37 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes, displaying exceptional timing and power. Supporting his brilliant knock were valuable cameos from Hardik Pandya, who scored 38, and Shubman Gill, contributing 29. These crucial performances propelled India to a competitive total of 168/6, even after facing a brief mid-innings wobble.
Bangladesh’s chase, unfortunately, struggled to gain any significant momentum, despite Saif Hassan’s resilient 69 runs. India’s bowling attack proved formidable, with Kuldeep Yadav weaving a masterful spell to claim 3 wickets for just 18 runs, and Varun Chakaravarthy adding to the pressure with 2 wickets for 29 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, true to form, delivered his signature pinpoint yorkers effectively. Ultimately, the ‘Tigers’ were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs.
With this decisive victory, India became the first team to secure their spot in the highly anticipated Asia Cup final. The remaining finalist will be determined by Thursday’s crucial match between Bangladesh and Pakistan, leaving fans hopeful for another thrilling India-Pakistan encounter. For now, the images of cordial post-match handshakes beautifully underscore that the competitive spirit between India and Bangladesh is always balanced by mutual respect and good sportsmanship.