The India-Pakistan rivalry rarely escapes the shadow of politics, but a simple gesture at the Hockey World Cup has prompted many fans, including senior journalist Shekhar Gupta to question why the same sporting courtesy remains absent from cricket. Gupta praised the two hockey teams for exchanging high-fives before their World Cup clash and suggested the cricketing rivalry could take a cue from them.
The moment came five days ago, before India and Pakistan met in Amstelveen in a crucial World Cup encounter. Instead of the customary handshake, players from both sides exchanged quick high-fives before getting on with the match, an approach that was in line with the International Hockey Federation’s protocol.
Gupta shared a picture of the teams on X, calling it an example of “sporting high-5s” and asking people to think about the contrast.
“This image from the ongoing hockey World Cup in Belgium and the NetherlandsThe sporting high-5sThink about itIndia-Pakistan hockey rivalry is old as cricket and historically, way more competitive” Gupta wrote in his post.
He pointed out that India and Pakistan have a long and fiercely competitive hockey rivalry, yet players have continued to acknowledge each other on the field despite the tensions surrounding their countries.
“They’ve played each other multiple times since Op Sindoor, at all levels..Seniors, under-19, juniors
Shaking hands, exchanging high-fives, hugs, the occasional pat on the back while playingNobody’s outraged or called the Hockey India or the team’s patriotism in questionTwitter ‘patriotism’ targets only cricket” he added.
His broader point was aimed at cricket, where India and Pakistan have maintained a no-handshake approach in recent international meetings. Gupta argued that the hockey teams’ conduct had not triggered the same outrage or questions about patriotism that have accompanied similar discussions around cricket.
A number of fans on social media have also drawn the same comparison, pointing to the contrasting approaches in hockey and cricket.
Some, however, disagreed with the comparison and backed India’s stance in cricket.
THE IND VS PAK HANDSHAKE STORY
India’s senior cricket teams have avoided customary handshakes with Pakistan in five international matches across men’s and women’s cricket since 2025. The practice began during the men’s Asia Cup after the Pahalgam terror attack and amid Operation Sindoor.
The men’s team maintained the approach through their Asia Cup meetings before following it again during the 2026 T20 World Cup. India’s women’s team also adopted the same protocol during their T20 World Cup clash with Pakistan in June.
The decision has remained a subject of debate, particularly because India-Pakistan cricket encounters attract enormous attention and carry a political dimension beyond sport.
Gupta’s argument is that the hockey example demonstrates that intense rivalry and sporting courtesy can coexist, even when relations between the two countries remain strained.
INDIA AT FIH MEN’S HOCKEY WORLD CUP
The high-fives came before a thrilling contest that India eventually won 5-3. Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek scored twice each, while Hardik Singh added another as India secured a high-scoring victory and eliminated Pakistan from the tournament.
India’s campaign has since taken a difficult turn. They suffered a 1-3 defeat against the Netherlands in the second round, leaving their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.
Harmanpreet scored India’s only goal against the hosts, while Duco Telgenkamp, Tjep Hoedemakers and Thijs van Dam found the net for the Netherlands.
India now need a sizeable victory over Argentina in their final Pool E match, along with favourable results elsewhere, to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Five days after that pre-match gesture, the hockey rivalry has moved on to the business of the World Cup. But the image of the two teams exchanging high-fives has continued to resonate, particularly against the very different approach seen in cricket.
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