From a Test series in England to the T20 Asia Cup in the Emirates, the utterly inconsequential ‘handshake’ between players has monopolised headlines in Indian cricket.

When Suryakumar Yadav refused to fake a smile and appear friendly towards the Pakistan team — that is, shake hands — the opponents raked up gestures that mocked alleged military hits. If sensitivities are so far gone and numbed in this hostile environment between the two neighbours that they can’t tell wars and video games apart, the Indian decision to not shake hands too surrendered subtlety, after it first struck.

It stopped being an impactful statement and ceased to be an enduring image the moment Surya needed an entire press conference after beating Pakistan the first time to explain and underline why he had refused to shake hands. Not missing the point exactly, but embellished so starkly that it lost its assured poise.

Earlier, Ben Stokes raised a ruckus when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar wanted to get to their Test centuries at Old Trafford. How was this conveyed? Stokes stretched his arm, goading the duo to call off the match after a draw was imminent, and they refused to shake the said hand. It precipitated........

© Indian Express