Suryakumar Yadav [Source: @IMManu_18/x.com]India vs Pakistan matches are never just about bat and ball, they are about emotions, optics, history and sometimes even a simple handshake. And ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 showdown in Colombo, the biggest question doing the rounds is not about team combinations but about whether the players will shake hands at all. The boycott drama may have cooled down, but the tension hasn’t fully left the room, and when India captain Suryakumar Yadav was asked whether Indian players would shake hands with Pakistan after the match, his response was calm, cryptic and perfectly timed, leaving everyone guessing till the last moment. SKY keeps cards close to his chest When reporters asked Suryakumar Yadav about the handshake situation ahead of the high-voltage clash, he didn’t give a straight yes or no. Instead, he chose to play it late, just like he does with the bat. “Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, we will see tomorrow,” SKY said with a smile, keeping the suspense alive and refusing to get dragged into pre-match drama. Handshake issue still fresh after last year’s controversy The handshake debate didn’t come out of nowhere. It has roots in last year’s stormy encounters between the two sides. During the Asia Cup 2025 last year, the games were played in a tense backdrop and things got heated when Indian players refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players after the group-stage match. That stance continued in the following games too. No handshakes, no post-match pleasantries. Just quiet walk-offs. The same pattern followed in women’s matches and junior tournaments as well, turning what used to be a routine end-of-match gesture into a full-blown talking point across cricketing circles. So now, as the two teams prepare to face off again in Colombo, fans and experts are watching closely to see what unfolds once the final ball is bowled. Pakistan captain gives pointed response Pakistan skipper Salman Agha was also asked about the handshake issue and his answer carried a subtle message. He said the game should be played in the right spirit and in the same way cricket has always been played, adding that what happens next is entirely up to India. “The game should be played in the same spirit. And what I expect does not matter. The rest is up to them and whatever they want to do,” Agha said. When pressed further on whether there would be handshakes, he simply replied, “You will find out about that tomorrow.” All eyes on Colombo for final moment As both teams gear up for one of cricket’s biggest rivalries, fans are waiting not just for the first ball but also the final few seconds after the match ends. Will there be handshakes. Will there be quiet walk-offs. Or will the teams simply focus on cricket and let the result do the talking. For now, Suryakumar Yadav has played it safe and smart. Just a calm “wait and watch.” And in an India vs Pakistan game, sometimes the smallest moments off the field create the biggest headlines.
