WATCH: Australian players take a brutal dig at India over ‘handshake’ row with Pakistan ahead of white-ball series

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As both Australia and India are gearing up for another high-voltage clash, a fresh off-field spark has ignited pre-series chatter. Several Australian players, both men and women, have playfully mocked Team India over its recent ‘handshake’ controversy with Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025, adding a mischievous twist to the build-up ahead of the limited-overs series later this month. The remarks surfaced during a light-hearted Kayo Sports segment, where a group of Australian cricketers engaged in banter-filled exchanges about India’s off-field controversies.

The viral clip, produced by Kayo Sports, featured several Australian cricketers, including Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matt Short, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Alyssa Healy, Alana King, and Josh Hazlewood, all joining in on the banter.

In one segment, Marsh jokingly said, “We got the Travis Head finger in the ice cup,” referring to a humorous team inside joke. Alyssa Healy and Alana King followed with, “We got the healing hands, don’t we, Kingy!”, a cheeky nod to India’s so-called ‘handshake’ situation. When Ellis mentioned popcorn, Matt Short laughed and added, “Get some salt on it.”

The most pointed comment came from Josh Hazlewood, who said, “What about the shooter?” – a line many interpreted as a subtle reference to the tense moments between India and Pakistan during the Asia Cup. Australia’s white-ball captain Mitchell Marsh, spinner Sophie Molineux, and batter Grace Harris also joined the fun, with Molineux mockingly raising her hand before flashing two fingers in jest.

The video ends with Marsh, Hazlewood, and others breaking into laughter as the anchors conclude, “We all know India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness. They’re not huge fans of the traditional greeting, so we can throw them off before we’ve even bowled a ball.”

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The Asia Cup 2025 was not only remembered for its cricketing drama but also for off-field tensions between India and Pakistan. The controversy began after reports surfaced that Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian team declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following the matches, a move allegedly linked to the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Matters escalated further when India reportedly refused to accept the runners-up trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the ACC and PCB chairman, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. These incidents became symbolic of the frosty relations between the two cricket boards, sparking widespread media coverage and political commentary. Australia’s decision to reference those tensions, even in jest, has now fueled discussions about whether the banter was pure humor or deliberate psychological tactics before the first ODI.

The verbal jabs come just days before India’s tour of Australia, which begins with a three-match ODI series followed by five T20Is, starting October 19 in Perth. This series will also mark the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph.

While Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the ODIs due to a back injury and will rest before the Ashes beginning November 21, Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood are confirmed to feature in the ODI squad. Steve Smith, meanwhile, has retired from ODIs following Australia’s semi-final loss to India earlier this year in Dubai. Additionally, Adam Zampa and Josh Inglis are set to miss the series opener, further testing Australia’s squad depth.

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