Members of the Indian men's hockey team shook hands with their Pakistani counterparts at the conclusion of both FIH Pro League fixtures in London, in a gesture that has drawn widespread attention as a quiet departure from the 'no handshake policy' that has defined India-Pakistan sporting encounters since early 2025. The exchanges — before and after both matches — were described as a pleasant surprise by observers who had grown accustomed to the charged atmosphere surrounding any bilateral sporting contest between the two nations.

How the Handshake Moment Unfolded

Hockey players from both sides exchanged pre-match and post-match handshakes in keeping with the sport's long-standing tradition of sportsmanship. According to reports, the Indian players did not decline when Pakistani players approached them on the field — a detail that stood out given the context of recent months. The gesture was repeated in the second match as well, underscoring that it was not an isolated incident.

The Policy the Hockey Team Has Now Stepped Away From

The 'no handshake policy' was first adopted by the Indian men's cricket team under captain Suryakumar Yadav during the Asia Cup T20 tournament in 2025, as a mark of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and in support of the Indian armed forces. The decision drew global media coverage, with international outlets tracking India-Pakistan cricket fixtures specifically to report on the protocol. The Indian women's cricket team and the India U-19 teams subsequently adopted the same stance, and athletes across other sports followed suit.

Why the Hockey Team's Move Stands Out

The Indian men's hockey team's decision to resume the traditional pre- and post-match handshake makes it the first prominent Indian sporting side to visibly break from the policy. Critics and supporters of the original stance had debated whether the protocol should extend indefinitely across all sports or remain specific to cricket. The hockey team's conduct in London appears to have settled that question — at least for now — with the squad choosing to separate sporting convention from political context.

Notably, social media in Pakistan reportedly reacted positively to the first handshake, and the repetition of the gesture after the second match is expected to generate further commentary from supporters on both sides.

What This Signals Going Forward

The development leaves Indian cricket as the only major sporting discipline still formally maintaining the no-handshake stance with Pakistan. Whether other Indian sporting bodies or teams revisit their positions remains to be seen. The hockey team's conduct in London is likely to prompt fresh debate about the role of sport in diplomatic signalling — and about who, if anyone, has the authority to set such protocols across disciplines.