COLOMBO – In a match that felt more like a diplomatic standoff than a cricket fixture, India asserted its dominance over arch-rivals Pakistan with a crushing victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. However, the talk of the town wasn’t just Ishan Kishan’s explosive bat or Jasprit Bumrah’s lethal yorkers—it was the icy “No Handshake” policy that turned the pre-match toss into a viral moment of political theatre.
The Headline Act: Kishan’s Carnage
On a “spinner’s paradise” where Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha gambled by deploying a record-equaling 18 overs of spin, India’s Ishan Kishan proved to be the ultimate disruptor. While other batters struggled to find their timing on a sluggish, black-soil surface, Kishan blazed a trail, smashing 77 runs off just 40 balls.
Despite a late-innings wobble where Pakistan’s spin quintet—led by the wily Saim Ayub—threatened to derail the innings, India posted a formidable 175/7.
The Collapse: Bumrah and Varun Silence Karachi
Pakistan’s chase was DOA (Dead on Arrival). Jasprit Bumrah dismantled the top order in a clinical second over, removing Saim Ayub and Salman Agha in the space of three balls.
As the lights took over and the pitch began to grip, Varun Chakaravarthy turned the middle order into a carousel, at one point sitting on a hat-trick after removing Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed back-to-back. Pakistan eventually crumbled, barely crossing the 100-run mark as fans in Karachi reportedly “buried their faces in their palms” well before the final wicket fell.
The Controversy: “Spirit of the Game” vs. “Operation Sindoor”
The most explosive moments happened before a ball was even bowled. In a continuation of the stance adopted during the 2025 Asia Cup (dubbed “Operation Sindoor” by some media outlets), Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha pointedly refused to shake hands at the toss.
“Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all,” remarked commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, calling the snub “unbecoming of a nation like ours.”
The match itself was a “miracle” fixture, having been nearly canceled just days ago after a week-long boycott threat from the Pakistan government. It took a personal appeal from the Sri Lankan President to ensure the game proceeded, saving Colombo’s hospitality sector from an estimated 400% loss in projected revenue.