Australia Players Mock India’s No-handshake Gesture Of Asia Cup vs Pakistan In Promo Video

During the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian cricket team made headlines by refusing to shake hands with Pakistani players. The decision first came into sharp view following their group stage win, when skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not exchange pleasantries with Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha.

The same gesture—or rather, the absence of it—was repeated in the subsequent meetings between the two nations. This choice 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 (both men and women) took the opportunity to mock India’s handshake policy via a video produced by Kayo Sports. Anchors in the video joke that “We all know India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness,” followed by, “We know that they’re not huge fans of the traditional greeting (handshake), so we can throw them off before we’ve even bowled a ball.”  

Among the Australian players involved in the video are Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, and others. For example, Marsh imitates Travis Head’s “finger in the ice cup” move; Hazlewood quips, “What about 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 is more than harmless jest. Critics argue that mocking a gesture meant to show 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 just a sporting decision—it was imbued with meaning, as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent geopolitical strife including “Operation Sindoor.”  

As the ODI series approaches (beginning October 19 in Australia), the mockery from Australia seems calculated to unsettle, but it also adds tension and raises questions about sportsmanship. Whether this episode will influence on-field performances remains to be seen.