On Thursday (18th September), senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai appeared visibly shaken and upset after Indian skipper Surya Kumar Yadav dedicated India’s emphatic win over Pakistan to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to the Indian armed forces. His reaction was aired during a debate on India Today’s Democratic Newsroom, where he spent several minutes arguing and raising his voice, in what could best be described as a prolonged meltdown.

The controversy began after India defeated Pakistan in a high-voltage Asia Cup match held in the UAE on Sunday (14th September). Not only did India crush Pakistan by 7 wickets, but the Indian players also refused to participate in the traditional post-match handshake. Instead, the team stood firm in dedicating the win to the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam and the soldiers of the armed forces. While many fans celebrated this as a patriotic gesture, Sardesai could not hold back his frustration.

During the debate, journalist Vikrant Gupta tried to calm the discussion by reminding viewers that shaking hands is not a compulsory law in cricket, but simply a convention. He explained:

“It’s not a rule. It’s a convention. You know, cricket runs on two things. One is the laws of the game. The other is the spirit of the game. These are the MCC playing conditions. So there is the spirit of the game. You may shake hands. You may not.”

Instead of being convinced, Sardesai’s tone became sharper. His agitation was clear as he interrupted, gestured angrily, and accused the Indian team of dragging politics into cricket. He argued:

“Yes, he is right. Shaking hands is a convention. It’s the spirit of MCC cricket. It’s up to each individual. I don’t want to shake your hand. It’s your look out. But when you go and make a political statement…You may approve of the statement as Indians. We may want Surya Kumar Yadav to make that statement, but it goes against the rules of the ICC.”

The debate then turned more heated as Sardesai began drawing parallels with other global cricket incidents. His voice rose as he compared Yadav’s patriotic gesture with the actions of Moeen Ali and Usman Khawaja, who had shown solidarity with Gaza and Palestine by wearing black armbands. Sardesai insisted that international cricket rules had to be consistent, regardless of the country or cause involved.

In his fiery tone, he recalled another incident:

“Dhoni put a soldier’s insignia in a match against South Africa. ICC acted. Why have you not acted now? Look, ICC has to decide. Are you Indian Cricket Council or International Cricket Council? They have to decide that.”

By this point, Sardesai’s meltdown was evident. His repeated insistence, hand movements, and angry expressions painted the picture of someone unwilling to accept that players could choose to dedicate their win to a national cause. Viewers could see his discomfort each time Surya Kumar Yadav’s tribute was mentioned, and instead of acknowledging the sentiment behind it, he kept circling back to ICC rules, creating a scene that left many in disbelief.