Year Ender 2025: From Champions Trophy Boycott to No-Handshakes – Five Major Controversies Surrounding Team India

New Delhi: The year 2025 was a rollercoaster for Indian cricket, with the national teams—both men and women—achieving remarkable success, yet also finding themselves embroiled in controversies that drew attention from across the globe. As the year comes to a close, here’s a look at the five biggest controversies that shook Team India this year.

1. Champions Trophy Boycott: India Refuses to Travel to Pakistan
The year’s first major controversy emerged around the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan. Team India declined to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, sparking a heated debate within the cricketing world. Global opinions were divided, though India’s stance ultimately prevailed. The ICC had to step in to mediate between the two cricket boards. Consequently, India played its matches in the UAE, including the semi-finals and finals, setting a precedent that Pakistan will now avoid playing in India for future ICC tournaments. Similarly, in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, India vs Pakistan matches were held in Sri Lanka, with the same arrangement expected for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

2. No-Handshake Controversy at the Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2025, despite India hosting the event, was held in the UAE due to tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attacks. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Aga post-toss, opting instead to acknowledge the commentators. Pakistan strongly protested, even approaching the ICC, but no rules mandated handshakes, leaving the complaint unresolved. Tensions escalated further due to unsportsmanlike gestures from Pakistani players.

3. Mohsin Naqvi Takes Team India’s Trophy
The no-handshake incident extended into the tournament finale. After India won the Asia Cup, they refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and a Pakistani government minister. Following hours of standoff, Naqvi left with the trophy, which has yet to return to India. Team India celebrated virtually, posting photos of the victory while mocking Naqvi on social media.

4. IPL 2025: RCB Triumph Marred by Tragedy
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) achieved their first IPL title in 2025, a historic milestone for the team. However, celebrations turned tragic as a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries. The stadium has remained closed for matches since the incident, overshadowing RCB’s historic win.

5. No-Handshake Controversy with England
The handshake controversy repeated itself during India’s tour of England. In the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refused to shake hands with England captain Ben Stokes and other players as the match neared a draw. Stokes attempted to encourage the gesture to officially conclude the game, but Jadeja and Sundar declined, leading to minor confrontations amplified by the English media.

6. Smriti Mandhana’s Wedding Controversy
November 2025 brought both joy and turbulence for Indian women’s cricket. Smriti Mandhana, who played a crucial role in India’s Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 win, announced her wedding to longtime boyfriend Palash Muchhal on November 23. Celebrations in Sangli, including Haldi, Mehendi, and Sangeet ceremonies, initially proceeded smoothly. However, on the wedding day, reports emerged of health emergencies involving both Mandhana’s father and Palash, leading to the wedding’s postponement. Social media activity, including deleted posts and leaked flirtatious chats on November 25, fueled further speculation. Ultimately, Mandhana and Muchhal called off the wedding days later, ending the saga that captivated cricket and social media fans alike.

As 2025 draws to a close, these controversies have left a lasting impact on Team India, highlighting the challenges and pressures of modern cricket both on and off the field.

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