India Bangladesh snub found its way onto the field during the Under-19 World Cup 2026 Group A clash. A video trending on social media shows that during the toss, India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh’s deputy Zawad Abrar refrained from the traditional pre-match handshake. Unexpectedly, captain Azizul Hakim did not appear at the toss, despite being featured in the playing XI. After a rain-interrupted start, Abrar won the toss and opted to bowl first due to the moisture on the Bulawayo surface.

In recent days, the lack of handshakes seems to be becoming a trend. Previously, in the Asia Cup 2025 and the Women’s World Cup, the Indian team refrained from shaking hands with the Pakistan skipper, focusing on contemporary political unrest between the two countries. A protest began to take stance against Pakistan, which preceded another event, as the growing unrest between the BCCI and BCB is now evident. This follows the termination of high-profile player contracts in the IPL, as well as the venue debate regarding the senior men’s T20 World Cup.

After the toss, the limelight shifted to cricket. Abrar, Bangladesh’s deputy skipper, expressed confidence in his words about the bowling approach. He stated, “We will field first. The wicket looks damp and we would like to take advantage for the first 10–15 overs. We’ve prepared well, and we did well in the Asia Cup as well. We’ve got two all-rounders playing today.”

India’s skipper Ayush Mhatre stated, “We also would have bowled first. The wicket looks damp, but it’s OK. Batting was a small concern. It was a small target and we should have chased it down with the loss of one or two wickets, but it’s OK. No changes for us.”