A fresh twist emerged in the ongoing India-Pakistan cricket rivalry during their recent Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai. Indian players notably chose to shake hands exclusively with the umpires and match officials, pointedly bypassing their Pakistani opponents. This controversial gesture, observed both before and after the game, deeply baffled the Pakistan side and further fueled tensions that began during their initial group-stage encounter.
The incident echoed a similar event from a week prior when India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, avoided the customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Agha at the toss. This earlier snub had already ignited widespread debate among fans and media, raising questions about whether the frosty relations would carry over into future matches.
Indeed, the tension continued. At the coin toss, Suryakumar Yadav once again bypassed Agha, instead exchanging greetings directly with commentator Ravi Shastri before shaking hands with match referee Andy Pycroft. The Indian captain later explained his team’s strategy: “We are going to bowl first. It is a good pitch. Some dew came during our practice session last night. I am really looking forward to this game. Jasprit Bumrah comes back, Varun Chakaravarthy also comes back in for Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh.”
The absence of a handshake became even more conspicuous after the game concluded. Following India’s successful chase, batsmen Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya immediately headed back to their dressing room and team camp, completely skipping the traditional post-match handshake with the Pakistani players.
Adding to the drama, Indian players, after celebrating their victory, emerged from their dressing room and began walking towards the Pakistani team. However, to everyone’s surprise, they proceeded to shake hands only with the umpires and match officials before turning back, leaving their opponents visibly bewildered.
India ultimately secured a dominant victory, chasing down Pakistan’s 172-run target with six wickets in hand and seven balls to spare, thanks to a decisive boundary from Tilak Varma. This marked Pakistan’s second defeat to the defending Asia Cup champions.
Prior to the crucial match, Suryakumar Yadav had already addressed questions about the lingering controversy during a press conference. He skillfully sidestepped direct inquiries about India’s “no-handshake” stance, responding, “What other things are you talking about? You are talking about our performance with the ball? It is a good contest between bat and ball. The whole stadium is packed to the rafters. The best thing is to put your best foot forward and do the best for your country.”
This escalating “handshake row” has firmly placed off-field tensions at the forefront of discussions surrounding the Asia Cup 2025, becoming one of the tournament’s most significant talking points and showing no signs of de-escalation.