Australia Cricketers Mock India’s No-Handshake Stance Ahead of White-Ball Series

A recently deleted video by Kayo Sports caused a stir after some Australian cricketers seemed to make fun of India’s choice not to shake hands with Pakistan during the Asia Cup and Women’s World Cup. The clip showed players like Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Grace Harris joking about India avoiding handshakes with Pakistani players following the terror attack in Pahalgam and the later strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The video posted by Kayo Sports on social media showed an anchor saying, “We all know India is on its way. But we've identified one critical weakness." Another anchor added, "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,".

Video of Celebrations Taken Down After Social Media Backlash

AUS players pre-India clip mocks India no-handshake theatre vs Pak. Why Aussie media & players laughing at stance sold as national pride? @BCCI @JayShah @GautamGambhir @narendramodi @ICC @MithunManhas @vikrantgupta73 @rawatrahul9 @mufaddal_vohra @PadmajaJoshi @ShivAroor pic.twitter.com/lSbuyhEcui

— Maham Fazal (@MahamFazal_) October 14, 2025

The players then joined in, suggesting ways to greet each other instead of handshakes. Glenn Maxwell and Jake Fraser-McGurk tried a fist-bump, which didn’t go well, while women’s team players Grace Harris and Sophie Molinuex came up with funny and creative gestures. Mitchell Marsh, who will captain both the ODI and T20I teams, suggested the “finger in the ice cup,” a celebratory move made famous by World Cup-winning opener Travis Head.

Australia women’s team captain Alyssa Healy, who is in India for the Women’s World Cup, suggested the “Healy Hands” celebration. The video, meant to grab attention before the big series, was reportedly taken down after social media backlash. Excitement is high as India and Australia get ready to face each other in a white-ball series with three ODIs and three T20Is, starting 19 October. Shubman Gill will lead India in the ODIs, which will also see the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Handshaking Controversy During Asia Cup Sparks Debate

Suryakumar Yadav will lead India’s T20I team in a five-match series starting 29 October in Canberra. He was also at the center of the handshake controversy during last month’s Asia Cup, when India refused to shake hands with Pakistan at the coin toss and after the match. Suryakumar later said the gesture was a tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicated the win to them and the Indian armed forces. However, his explanation faced criticism with some calling it politically motivated.

Pakistan filed a formal complaint with the ICC against Indian players for their conduct, while India also complained about Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for making provocative gestures like Rauf’s “jet crashing” and “6-0” signs and Farhan’s rifle mimicry. Tensions rose further during the trophy ceremony when Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, leaving the ceremony delayed and incomplete and the Indian team without their celebration.

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ICC Fines India 5% for Slow Over-Rate in Women’s World Cup 2025 vs Australia The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined India five percent of their match fee for a slow over-rate during their ICC Women’s World Cup group match against Australia in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (October 12).

by IPL Web Desk October 15, 2025