The India–Pakistan rivalry added another layer of intrigue during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash in Dubai on September 21, with head coach Gautam Gambhir making a subtle but powerful statement. Even as India continued its stance of avoiding handshakes with Pakistan players amid heightened cross-border tensions, Gambhir ensured his team upheld cricketing traditions by greeting the match officials.
Much like the earlier league clash, there was no handshake at the toss between Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Agha. After sealing a six-wicket win with seven balls to spare, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya headed straight to the dressing room, skipping the customary handshake with their opponents.
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However, Gambhir intervened, signalling his players to return to the field. In a striking gesture, the Indian cricketers walked out again—not towards the Pakistan team—but directly to the umpires, shaking hands with the officials before making their exit. The move left many surprised and sparked plenty of debate.
— KKR Karavan Clips (@KkrKaravanClips) September 21, 2025
Gambhir later shared an Instagram story featuring Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and the Indian team, captioning it with a single word: Fearless. The message further underlined his intent to maintain pride while respecting the spirit of the game.
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On the field, India’s bowlers recovered strongly after a lacklustre start. Shivam Dube emerged as an unlikely bowling hero, keeping Pakistan in check during the death overs. Pakistan, who were 91/1 after 10 overs thanks to a brisk 72-run stand between Sahibzada Farhan (58 off 45) and Saim Ayub (21 off 17), eventually managed only 171/5. A dropped catch by Kuldeep Yadav off Varun Chakravarthy proved costly, but India’s composed chase ensured the result swung their way in yet another intense Indo-Pak battle.
