“It Is Different Now”: Nanjiani on the Fading Camaraderie
Kumail Nanjiani, who has often been vocal about his Pakistani roots and love for the game, joined fellow comedian Hasan Minhaj to discuss the cultural weight of India-Pakistan matches. While acknowledging that India is currently the “best team in the world,” Nanjiani noted that the “brotherhood vibe” that once defined these contests has vanished.
- The Historical Respect: “Those players respected each other and were friends… I never felt like those teams did not like each other. It is different now,” Kumail shared.
- The “Shameful” Moment: Specifically addressing the September Group A match in the Asia Cup 2025, he called the lack of a handshake “shameful.” * The Value of Sport: He added, “Sport is the one time when we can actually put everything aside and play… the lack of handshake really was very sad.”
Recap: The Asia Cup 2025 Handshake Controversy
The incident occurred in September 2025 after India secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan, chasing down a target of 128. Despite the clinical win, the post-match optics shocked the cricketing world:“It Is Different Now”: Nanjiani on the Fading Camaraderie
Kumail Nanjiani, who has often been vocal about his Pakistani roots and love for the game, joined fellow comedian Hasan Minhaj to discuss the cultural weight of India-Pakistan matches. While acknowledging that India is currently the “best team in the world,” Nanjiani noted that the “brotherhood vibe” that once defined these contests has vanished.
- The Historical Respect: “Those players respected each other and were friends… I never felt like those teams did not like each other. It is different now,” Kumail shared.
- The “Shameful” Moment: Specifically addressing the September Group A match in the Asia Cup 2025, he called the lack of a handshake “shameful.” * The Value of Sport: He added, “Sport is the one time when we can actually put everything aside and play… the lack of handshake really was very sad.”
Recap: The Asia Cup 2025 Handshake Controversy
The incident occurred in September 2025 after India secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan, chasing down a target of 128. Despite the clinical win, the post-match optics shocked the cricketing world:
| Event Detail | Description |
| The Snub | Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube walked directly to the dressing room post-match without the customary greeting. |
| The Wait | Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and his team reportedly waited outside the Indian dugout to offer handshakes, but no Indian players emerged. |
| Tense Atmosphere | Reports indicated that the captains avoided eye contact and handshakes even during the toss. |
The tension was reflective of a year marked by heightened diplomatic friction, leading to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which eventually saw the tournament moved or played in a hybrid model.
About Kumail Nanjiani
Kumail Nanjiani remains one of the most prominent South Asian voices in Hollywood. He rose to fame with his role as Dinesh in HBO’s Silicon Valley and earned an Academy Award nomination for co-writing The Big Sick. He also made his mark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kingo in Eternals.