Australia prepared for no handshake vs India; Mitchell Marsh, Maxwell come up with solutions

Many stories in cricket start with a handshake or, in this case, the lack of one. While Australia prepare to host India in a much-anticipated white-ball series, the prelude has come from a tongue-in-cheek video across the Pacific.

The Australians, always quick with humour and even quicker with mind games, have found their latest talking point in India’s decision to skip post-match handshakes with Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025. With Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood leading the banter brigade, the Aussies have found a light-hearted pre-series theatre, something that is ultra important to keep talks in cricket hearty and fun.

India-Pakistan handshake snub

The Asia Cup 2025 was an entire series of drama. Less of cricket. It was played in a politically charged environment, coming just months after the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s counter-operation, “Operation Sindoor”. In that tense backdrop, Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian team refused to shake hands with Pakistani players after all three of their encounters: the group match, the Super 4 clash, and the final in Dubai. The act first took Pakistan by a surprise and they forced an entire Andy Pycroft saga.

Continuing the controversy, the Indian side declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from ACC and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Naqvi also declined to hand over the trophy, which resulted in India celebrate with an imaginary trophy.

Catch the entire Asia Cup controversies between India and Pakistan here. Catch timeline of the saga that followed Asia Cup final here.

Australia have options for no handshakes!

Sensing an opportunity for some good-natured banter, Australian cricketers have jumped into the conversation with humour. In a promotional video shared by Kayo Sports, anchors introduced the clip by saying, “We all know India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness.” The other added, “They’re not huge fans of the traditional greeting, so we can throw them off before we’ve even bowled a ball.”

The video then cuts to Captain Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, and Sophie Molineux, each trying their own version of alternative “greetings.” Marsh dips his finger into an ice cup in a playful imitation of Travis Head’s famous celebration, while Molineux mockingly raises her hand and then her middle fingers to tease the Indian team. Hazlewood, ever the mischief-maker, added, “What about the shooter?” before everyone burst into laughter.

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