India vs Australia: Controversy erupts as Kangaroos mock Men in Blue over the 'handshake row'
The India vs Pakistan rivalry is widely regarded as one of the most heated battles in the sport. However, the India vs Australia rivalry isn’t far behind, often producing evenly contested encounters, something that is frequently missing in clashes between the Men in Blue and Pakistan. As the Australia Tour approaches, it seems the Kangaroos have decided to tap into the buzz surrounding the India vs Pakistan rivalry to amplify the hype for the upcoming white-ball series Down Under.
India vs Australia rivalry heats up with the Kangaroos releasing a notorious teaser
The India vs Australia rivalry remains one of cricket’s most anticipated showdowns, and the stage is set once again as the two powerhouses gear up for a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series, beginning Sunday, October 19, in Perth. As fans await the much-hyped return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international action in the opening ODI, the Australian camp seems to have resorted to some classic pre-series mind games, taking a dig at the controversial handshake snub during the India vs Pakistan encounters in the Asia Cup 2025.
The Asia Cup 2025 earlier this year was overshadowed by off-field tensions between India and Pakistan. It all began when the Men in Blue, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The tournament’s closing ceremony added more fuel to the fire, with India declining to accept the trophy from ACC and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Now, in the lead-up to the India vs Australia series, several Australia men’s and women’s players have joined the banter, poking fun at India’s stance. The pre-series teaser features the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Alyssa Healy all chimed in, adding a humorous twist to the controversy.
The video uploaded by Kayo Sports opened with the anchor saying, "We all know India is on its way. But we've identified one critical weakness."
"We know that they're not huge fans of the traditional greeting (handshake), so we can throw them off before we've even bowled a ball," another anchor added.
Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s white-ball captain, was seen imitating teammate Travis Head’s “finger in the ice cup” gesture, while spinner Sophie Molineux mockingly raised her hand before flipping both middle fingers, clearly taking a jab at the Indian squad. The short clip wrapped up with Marsh, Hazlewood, Grace Harris, and the show’s hosts bursting into laughter, signaling Australia’s cheeky attempt to stir the pot before the on-field battle begins. Interestingly, the teaser has now been deleted after controversy brewed over the blatant mocking by Australia.
