Asia Cup 2025: Gautam Gambhir Orders Indian Players to Shake Hands with Umpires, Shocking Pakistan

India showcased their dominance over Pakistan, winning the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2025 by six wickets. Pakistan had set a modest target of 172, which was comfortably chased thanks to explosive innings from Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, with Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya sealing the victory.

However, the post-match proceedings sparked controversy. Following the match, Indian players headed straight to the dressing room, skipping the customary handshake with the Pakistani team—a scenario reminiscent of the group-stage clash, where captain Suryakumar Yadav also refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, choosing instead to greet the match referee and Ravi Shastri.

This time, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir intervened. A viral video shows him instructing his players, “At least meet the umpire,” prompting the team to return to the field and shake hands with the match officials. The move reportedly surprised the Pakistani side, as post-match handshakes are a long-standing cricketing tradition.

The incident has once again highlighted tensions between the two teams amid the ongoing tournament.

Looking ahead, India will face Bangladesh in Dubai on Wednesday, with a win securing a place in the final on September 28. Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday in a crucial encounter, following Bangladesh’s four-wicket win over Sri Lanka earlier in the Super Four stage.