"I Haven't Seen It": Marsh Stays Clear of Handshake Controversy

Perth: Australian captain Mitchell Marsh found himself facing an awkward question ahead of the first ODI against India—about a promotional video that many felt crossed the line. The promo, which appeared to mock India's decision not to shake hands with Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025, had sparked criticism online. But Marsh's response? He's staying well out of it.

When asked about the controversial video at the pre-match press conference, the Australian skipper kept things simple. "I actually haven't seen the ad, I don't know if it's blowing up. I don't have much to comment on it," he said, quickly moving the conversation to safer ground.

What Was the Controversy About?

The promotional video by Kayo Sports featured Mitchell Marsh along with some of his Australian teammates. In the clip, the players appeared to joke about India's no-handshake policy with Pakistan by suggesting various alternative greetings they could use when meeting the Indian cricketers.

The timing couldn't have been worse. The Asia Cup 2025 had ended just weeks ago, and the handshake controversy was still fresh in everyone's minds. Indian fans didn't find the promo funny at all, and social media quickly filled with criticism calling it insensitive and disrespectful.

The Asia Cup Drama

To understand why this touched a nerve, we need to look back at what happened during the Asia Cup. India and Pakistan played three matches during the tournament—in the group stage, Super 4, and the final. In all three encounters, Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.

This wasn't just a random decision. It came after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which killed 26 people in Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, and tensions between the two countries reached dangerous levels, with a four-day military conflict that nearly turned into full-scale war.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav made it clear that the handshake snub was intentional. After India won the final by five wickets, he dedicated the victory to the armed forces and the victims of the Pahalgam attack. "We came here solely to play and delivered them a fitting response," Yadav told the media.

Trophy Drama Too

The controversy didn't end with the handshakes. When it came time to receive the Asia Cup trophy, the Indian team refused to accept it from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be Pakistan's Interior Minister. The presentation ceremony was cancelled, and the BCCI demanded the trophy be sent directly to them.

Pakistan was furious about all this and even complained to the ICC, threatening to boycott matches. But the ICC rejected their complaints, and the tournament continued.

Why the Promo Backfired

Given this background, you can see why a promotional video making light of the situation would upset people. For Indian fans, the handshake snub wasn't about cricket etiquette—it was about making a statement on a serious political and security issue. Turning it into a joke for a TV promo felt tone-deaf.

Australian cricket has generally tried to stay neutral in India-Pakistan political tensions, so the video was seen as an unusual and unnecessary step. Many felt it was better to let the matter rest rather than poke fun at it.

Marsh Moves On

To his credit, Mitchell Marsh didn't try to defend or explain the video. He simply said he hadn't seen it and moved on to talk about the cricket ahead. He praised Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, calling them "legends of the game" and expressing hope that fans would get to witness "two of the greats playing in Australia."

With over 175,000 tickets already sold for the three-match series, it's clear that fans are more interested in watching good cricket than dwelling on off-field controversies. And that's probably exactly where everyone—including Mitchell Marsh—wants to keep the focus.