India’s ODI Captain, Shubman Gill, faced an unexpected moment after a fan shook hands with him and then shouted Pakistan Zindabad. A video of the incident has been captured and is making the rounds on social media. The captain seemed taken aback briefly before carrying on with his walk.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Shubman Gill, who has recently become the captain of India’s ODI team, and fast bowler Harsh Rana are seen walking around Adelaide city when a young man approaches and shakes their hands. Wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, and glasses, Shubman Gill extends his hand for a handshake, and at the same time, the man chants’ Pakistan Zindabad.’
Shubman Gill is visibly surprised after a fan chanted Pakistan Zindabad, but without reacting, he pulls his hand back and moves forward. While Indian social media users are criticising the Pakistani free fans’ move, some Pakistani social media users are expressing happiness over the slogan Pakistan Zindabad being chanted in front of the Indian captain. Some users are linking it to the handshake controversy during the Asia Cup last month. During the Asia Cup matches, the Indian cricket team avoided shaking hands with Pakistani players.
The ongoing political standoff between India and Pakistan spilled onto the cricket field on, when India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that his side deliberately avoided shaking hands with their rivals after their Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai.
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Shubman Gill was spotted in Australia with his bag carrier behind him. A Pakistani fan went over and gave him the handshake that never happened 🇵🇰🤝 #ShubmanGill #PakistanCricket #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/3ytRenzWL9
— Haroon (@hazharoon) October 22, 2025
Yadav, who hit the winning runs alongside Shivam Dube, walked straight off the field without approaching Pakistan’s captain or team for the customary handshakes. Pakistan’s players gathered as usual, expecting the ritual, but the Indian squad instead exchanged handshakes only among themselves before retreating to their dressing room and shutting the door.
When asked if the act contradicted the spirit of cricket, Yadav was blunt: “A few things in life are above sportsmanship.” He said the victory was dedicated to the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and to the Indian armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor—India’s missile strikes on six sites inside Pakistan, which New Delhi claimed were in retaliation.
The Pahalgam attack killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Although the armed group, The Resistance Front, claimed responsibility, India alleged Pakistani involvement. Pakistan then launched retaliatory strikes on Indian military installations, before a ceasefire was brokered four days later.
From GVS South Asia Desk