India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026: Will There Be A Handshake? Suryakumar Yadav Breaks Silence

India captain Suryakumar Yadav chose caution over clarity on the eve of India's much-anticipated ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Group A fixture against Pakistan at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium. With tensions lingering from previous encounters, the spotlight was firmly on whether the customary handshake between the two sides would take place on Sunday.

Handshake Question Leaves Surya Tight-Lipped

Addressing reporters ahead of the marquee clash, Suryakumar was directly asked if the Indian players would shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. Rather than offering a straight answer, he kept the suspense alive.

"Wait for 24 hours. We are here to play cricket. Have good food and sleep," he said.

When pressed further on the issue, the Indian skipper maintained his stance. "Let's break the suspense tomorrow. I just spoke about it. What's more important? You tell me. The game is important. Let's play the match first. Whether the handshake happens at the toss or not, we will see that tomorrow. Let's just wait 24 hours."

The uncertainty stems from events that unfolded during the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. Since that tournament, players from both teams have largely refrained from engaging in pre and post match handshakes. The development followed the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian Armed Forces, which heightened tensions off the field.

During the Asia Cup group stage match, India, led by Suryakumar, did not shake hands with Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board later expressed its displeasure and lodged a complaint with the ICC, claiming that match referee Andy Pycroft had failed to uphold the spirit of the game.

Salman Ali Agha Calls For Sporting Spirit

Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha was confronted with the same question. While refraining from making demands, he underlined the importance of tradition and fair play.

"The game should be played in the same spirit. And what I expect, obviously, does not matter. But I feel that the game should be played the same way as it has been since the beginning of cricket. And the rest is up to them and whatever they want to do," he said.

His remarks suggested a desire to keep the focus on cricket while acknowledging that the final decision lies beyond his control.

Focus Remains On The Big Occasion

Despite the off field debate, Suryakumar emphasised that India's preparations have been centred solely on cricket. The team had planned for all its league fixtures well in advance.

"We were prepared for all fixtures. We had to play a game against Pakistan on February 15. Our flights were booked for this game. We were prepared to play four league games. We were only focused on the preparation and what we needed to do," he explained.

Reflecting on the magnitude of the India Pakistan rivalry, he admitted that the occasion naturally brings added intensity.

"In my view, if you play any game, there is always pressure. And when you play an India-Pak game, it's more about the occasion. It's a big platform, obviously. So, no matter how much you say that it's just another game, we want to play cricket. Back of the mind, it's a human tendency that you know which game you are going to play. And we don't play them often as well. We don't even play them regularly. But at the end of the day, we try to keep things simple. Whatever hard work or practice we have done, we try to execute it in games. And we try to place our best foot forward on the ground," he added.