On Sunday, September 21, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was at the centre of fresh controversy, as he instructed his players to shake hands with the on-field umpires but not with the Pakistan side after their Super Four clash in Dubai.
As seen in the earlier league game, India captain Suryakumar Yadav avoided a handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Agha at the toss. The trend continued post-match, when Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, who guided India to victory with seven balls to spare, walked directly to the dressing room, skipping the customary handshake with their rivals.
In a surprising twist, Gambhir called the players back onto the field and directed them to greet only the match officials. The Indian squad approached the Pakistani team but turned to shake hands solely with the umpires before heading off again, leaving the opposition visibly surprised.
The gesture has further intensified the ongoing debate around sportsmanship and the deepening India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
