Handshake row heats up: Gautam Gambhir's viral remark to Indian players steals the show

India's victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup was marked by a controversial lack of handshakes between the teams, both after the match and at the toss. Coach Gautam Gambhir's reminder to players to acknowledge the umpires highlighted the strained relationship. While India dominated on the field, the off-field tensions continue to overshadow the cricket.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir(X)

India’s six-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai may have been convincing on the scoreboard, but the bigger talking point came after the final ball was bowled. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, standing near the boundary line, was caught on camera telling his players, “Are umpire se to mil le” – a remark that perfectly summed up the unusual post-match scenes. Click here to watch the video. For the second time in a week, Indian players refused to engage in the customary handshake with their Pakistani opponents. Instead, after Tilak Varma struck the winning boundary to finish the chase at 174-4, the batters walked back to the dugout without acknowledging the opposition.

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A little later, some Indian players came back out but only to shake hands with the umpires and match referee Andy Pycroft. Gambhir’s nudge to “at least greet the officials” made it clear that while India’s stance against Pakistan would hold firm, there was still respect for those overseeing the contest. This mirrored what had happened at the toss earlier in the evening. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav once again avoided shaking hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Agha, going straight to commentator Ravi Shastri and the match referee instead. The gesture – or lack of it – has now become one of the defining stories of this Asia Cup. On the field, India were dominant. Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 74 off 39 balls set the tone before Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma ensured a smooth finish. Yet once again, the cricketing brilliance was overshadowed by off-field tensions. The handshake row shows no signs of ending, and Gambhir’s words have now added another chapter to the drama.

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