Australia, Oct 15 : India is set to begin their ODI series against Australia on October 19, but off-field controversy has already emerged. A video circulating on social media, uploaded by Kayo Sports, showed Australian players both men and women mocking the Indian cricket team over its “no handshake” stance adopted during the Asia Cup 2025.
Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in April, which claimed 26 lives, the Indian team had refused to shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup, including the final, as a mark of solidarity with the victims. This decision sparked global debate and discussions about sportsmanship and political sensitivity.
In the viral video, an anchor jokingly said, “We all know India is on its way. But we’ve identified one critical weakness.” Another added, “We know that they’re not huge fans of the traditional greeting, so we can throw them off before we’ve even bowled a ball.”
The clip featured Australia’s white-ball captain Mitchell Marsh humorously mimicking a viral on-field moment involving teammate Travis Head, while fast bowler Josh Hazlewood added a provocative gun-hand gesture. Sophie Molineux, Australia’s women’s spinner, raised her hands before making a blurred gesture widely interpreted as showing her middle fingers. The segment concluded with Marsh, Hazlewood, and Grace Harris laughing, intensifying perceptions that the video went beyond harmless banter to deliberate mockery.
In response to backlash, Kayo Sports removed the video from their X handle.
The Indian team will play eight limited overs matches in Australia, starting with the first ODI in Perth on October 19, followed by Adelaide (October 23) and Sydney (October 25). This will be followed by a five-match T20 series from October 29 to November 8.
Takeaway: The pre-series mockery has added off-field tension ahead of the India-Australia ODI and T20 series, drawing attention to the lingering sensitivities stemming from India’s political stance during the Asia Cup.