Mike Hesson press conference: ‘Ishan took the game away from us’ after India beat Pakistan
At the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha refrained from the customary handshake, setting the tone for what was to follow. The absence of the traditional gesture reflected the political tensions that have increasingly cast a shadow over cricketing ties between the two nations.The pattern repeated itself after the final ball. As the Indian players celebrated their emphatic victory, Pakistani cricketers including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Tariq waited near the field, expecting the customary exchange of hands. Instead, the Indian team walked past without acknowledgement—no handshakes, no eye contact—and headed straight for the dressing room.The move was kept as a mark of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and in solidarity with the Indian Army after Operation Sindoor. India, who have already qualified for the Super Eight, will take on the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.