Mind games begin ahead of high-stakes India-Australia series
As India prepares to kick off its white-ball tour of Australia on October 19, the rivalry between the two cricketing powerhouses has already moved off the field and into the realm of controversy. A promotional video, now deleted, released by Australian streaming platform Kayo Sports has triggered widespread backlash for mocking India’s no-handshake policy with Pakistan.
The Asia Cup 2025 saw heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with India refusing post-match handshakes during all three of their encounters. That decision, publicly defended by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav as a tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack, added political undertones to an already fierce cricketing rivalry. Australia’s attempt to parody the gesture in a promo has now sparked another round of debate.
Deleted video mocks India’s ‘handshake weakness’
In the now-deleted clip from Kayo Sports, anchors Ian Higgins and Sam Perry begin by teasing what they call India’s “critical weakness.”
“We all know India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness,” says Ian Higgins.
Sam Perry adds, “We know that they’re not huge fans of the traditional greeting, so we can throw them off before we’ve even bowled a ball.”
The segment, intended as satire, quickly became controversial as prominent Australian players joined in with exaggerated handshake alternatives.
The full video is watchable here:
Players join in with cheeky jabs
Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s white-ball captain, suggested the “finger in the ice cup,” a celebration move originally made popular by Travis Head. Spinner Sophie Molineux mimed a pair of raised middle fingers, while Josh Hazlewood jokingly asked, “What about the shooter?”
The clip ended with Marsh, Hazlewood, Grace Harris, and the hosts laughing together—but the humour didn’t land well with many online. Though Kayo Sports deleted the video in response to the criticism, snippets of the footage continue to circulate on social media.
Backdrop of Asia Cup tension and formal complaints
India’s refusal to engage in post-match handshakes with Pakistan at the Asia Cup came in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. The BCCI maintained that it was a symbolic gesture, not an act of disrespect. Still, the move led to formal complaints from both sides. Pakistan’s team manager Naveed Akram Cheema cited the incident as mishandled, while India countered with complaints about provocative gestures by Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan.
Further controversy erupted during the Asia Cup final when the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, also Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The ceremony concluded without a formal handover, intensifying the diplomatic strain.
All eyes on the series ahead
India’s ODI squad, led by Shubman Gill, will take on Australia in a three-match series, followed by five T20Is starting October 29 in Canberra, where Suryakumar Yadav will return as captain. The Australian side, captained by Marsh, includes key players like Hazlewood, Starc, and Head, though Pat Cummins is being rested ahead of the Ashes.
As fans gear up for what promises to be another heated chapter in the India-Australia rivalry, this latest off-field jab has only intensified the buildup—ensuring that sparks may fly long before the first ball is bowled.
