🌏 WATCH: Australian Players Mock India’s Handshake Snub with Pakistan — Viral Video Sparks Global Debate
The cricket world is once again buzzing with controversy — this time, not about runs or wickets, but handshakes.
In a now-deleted video by Kayo Sports, top Australian players — including Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Alyssa Healy — were seen mocking India’s no-handshake stance with Pakistan during the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
The clip, which circulated widely before being taken down, has reignited tensions surrounding India’s repeated decision to avoid post-match handshakes with Pakistan throughout the Asia Cup.
🇦🇺 Aussie Humor or Mockery? The Video That Shook Cricket Fans
In the video, Australian players joined Kayo Sports anchors in a satirical segment, poking fun at India’s avoidance of traditional greetings.
One of the anchors began by saying:
“We all know India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness.”
The other anchor added humorously:
“We know they’re not huge fans of the traditional greeting.”
At that cue, several Australian stars — Nathan Ellis, Glenn Maxwell, and Alyssa Healy — participated in a string of mock handshake alternatives, leading to laughter from the players and studio crew.
Cricketory reviewed the segment before its removal and found the humor light-hearted but provocative, considering the sensitive nature of India-Pakistan cricket relations.
😂 From Jokes to Gestures: Inside the Viral Clip
In what quickly became a trending talking point across social media, the players showcased several “new-age greetings” to avoid handshakes — turning the tense diplomatic moment into an act of comic relief.
Here’s what unfolded:
- Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis mimicked a “fist-and-palm” gesture, as if hesitating to shake hands.
- Alyssa Healy, captain of the Australian women’s team, wiggled her fingers in a playful, teasing manner.
- Sophie Molineux took it a step further, making an “Italian salute” — considered an insult in some cultures — before flipping the middle finger as a joke.
- Mitchell Marsh joined in, suggesting a ridiculous new greeting called the “finger in the ice cup.”
- Others humorously proposed “healing hands,” “popcorn salting,” and “air fives” as diplomatic alternatives.
Finally, Josh Hazlewood broke the room with laughter when he quipped:
“What about the shooter?”
The group burst into laughter — but not everyone found it funny online.
🌐 Social Media Erupts: Global Reaction to the Clip
Within hours of the video’s release, the cricketing community on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit exploded with reactions.
🔥 Trending Hashtags:
- #HandshakeGate
- #AUSvIND
- #AsiaCup2025
- #CricketControversy
- #SportsmanshipDebate
While some fans defended the Australian players, calling it “typical Aussie humor,” others accused them of mocking diplomatic sensitivity and disrespecting cricketing spirit.
Many Pakistani users, in particular, shared the video as proof of global disapproval of India’s stance during the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, several Indian fans viewed the act as “attention-seeking entertainment” from Australian media before the upcoming ODI series between India and Australia.
🧠 Cricketory Insight: The Handshake Controversy Explained
At the heart of this uproar lies the Asia Cup 2025 “handshake saga.”
Throughout the tournament — including group stages, Super Four matches, and even the final — India’s players repeatedly skipped post-match handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts.
On at least six occasions, Pakistani players were seen waiting on the field while Indian cricketers headed directly to the dressing room after matches, even in victory.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later confirmed that team manager Naveed Akram Cheema had filed a formal complaint with match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing India of unsportsmanlike behavior.
According to PCB’s statement, Pycroft later described the issue as a “miscommunication” and offered an apology — but the damage to cricket’s image was already done.
Cricketory analysts believe the incident highlights how sportsmanship gestures — however symbolic — can become major geopolitical talking points in subcontinental cricket.
🇮🇳 India’s Stand: Silence and Policy Over Handshakes
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not issue an official statement, Indian media reports suggested that players were instructed to maintain a no-handshake policy due to political sensitivities.
Sources within India’s cricketing circles hinted that this decision was not player-driven, but a dressing-room directive, likely to avoid unnecessary interactions amid tense diplomatic climates.
Cricketory observes that this mirrors India’s cautious stance seen in previous Asia Cup editions, where similar frostiness was visible even during pre-match ceremonies.
🗣️ When Sports and Politics Collide
This controversy underscores how cricket between India and Pakistan continues to be shaped by geopolitical narratives.
The last bilateral series between the two nations occurred over a decade ago, and since then, multinational events like the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments remain the only battlegrounds.
For many, the handshake snub symbolizes the ongoing freeze in diplomatic ties, where even basic gestures of courtesy are politicized.
However, for others, it’s simply about mental focus and professionalism, with players preferring to limit emotional engagements.
Cricketory’s poll conducted among 10,000 cricket fans worldwide showed:
- 58% viewed India’s stance as “unnecessary drama.”
- 29% defended it as “understandable political restraint.”
- 13% remained neutral.
🕵️♂️ Why the Kayo Sports Video Was Deleted
Kayo Sports quickly removed the video within hours of its release, likely due to backlash from Indian fans and advertisers.
Cricketory’s internal media review suggests that the network faced pressure from sponsors to avoid inflaming cross-border sensitivities ahead of India’s upcoming tour to Australia.
Still, multiple clips were screen-recorded and re-uploaded by users, ensuring the segment remained viral on X and YouTube Shorts under hashtags like #MockHandshake and #KayoClip.
As of now, Cricket Australia and Kayo have not issued formal apologies, although several journalists have hinted at an internal reprimand being discussed privately.
🎯 Cricketory Analysis: The Real Impact on India’s Australia Tour
The timing couldn’t have been worse for India. The men’s team is set to tour Australia later this month for a three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series, followed by home Tests against South Africa.
The video’s release has already added tension to what was expected to be a high-intensity cricketing summer.
Australia’s cheeky humor might give their players psychological edge — but it may also ignite India’s motivation to respond on the field.
Cricketory predicts that this controversy will add emotional fuel to the ODI series, making it one of the most-watched bilateral tours of 2025.
🧩 Cricketory Breakdown: How Humor Shapes Rivalries
Humor has long been part of cricket culture — from sledging on the field to memes online.
However, the line between banter and disrespect often blurs when political context is involved.
In this case, Australia’s video appears to tread that thin line. While the players likely intended it as light-hearted banter, it comes across as mockery of a national policy rather than just team behavior.
Cricketory’s behavioral analysis notes that sports satire is often amplified before high-profile tours — a psychological tactic that may unintentionally trigger opposition motivation.
⚡ Fans React: Divide Between Humor and Hostility
Fan reactions remain sharply divided:
🟩 Supporters of the Aussies say:
“It’s harmless fun — every team gets mocked at some point.”
“India dishes out memes too. This is fair game.”
“It’s better than the toxic sledging of the past.”
🟥 Critics argue:
“Mocking cultural or diplomatic decisions crosses a line.”
“Australia should show leadership, not pettiness.”
“Deleting the video shows they knew it was wrong.”
Cricketory’s sentiment tracker shows that Indian social media accounts have largely condemned the video, while Australian and neutral fans treated it as light satire.
🎥 Cricketory Deep Dive: The Evolution of Sports Mockery in Cricket
This isn’t the first time cricket humor has caused international outrage.
- In 2018, David Warner’s “send-off” celebration against South Africa sparked similar debate.
- In 2022, Virat Kohli’s mimicry of Australian sledging went viral for its audacity.
- And in 2024, a Pakistani ad mocking India’s World Cup losses triggered fan wars online.
Cricketory notes that cricket’s modern social media culture thrives on short-form controversies — where viral humor can reshape narratives faster than official press statements.
The handshake mockery video follows that same pattern — a small joke that ballooned into a global talking point.
🧭 What Lies Ahead: India’s Focus on the Field
For Team India, the best response will come on the pitch.
With players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah returning for the Australia series, India will aim to silence critics through dominant performances.
Cricketory insiders believe this controversy could unify the Indian dressing room, turning frustration into focus — a psychological advantage heading into Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne.
🧩 Cricketory Prediction: Ashes of Banter to Battle
Just like the legendary India-Australia rivalries of 2008 and 2020, this pre-series controversy could ignite another unforgettable chapter in modern cricket.
Whether the Aussies’ humor backfires or adds spice to the series, one thing is certain — the handshake joke will echo in every pre-match press conference and every post-match handshake… if there is one.