Harbhajan & Dahani Share Handshake in Abu Dhabi T10

The final over of Wednesday’s Abu Dhabi T10 League match kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Northern Warriors needed just eight runs to beat the Stallions, who were 107/4.

Shahnawaz Dahani stepped up and bowled with calm precision. He took two wickets and gave only three runs. The match turned in an instant, but the big moment arrived later, with a simple handshake.

At the end, Harbhajan Singh, Stallions’ captain, walked up. Then it happened, a handshake. Simple, but meaningful. Gasps ran through the Zayed Cricket Stadium. In the past, handshakes between Indian and Pakistani players were avoided, especially after the Pahalgam incident in May. Yet today, sportsmanship shone in the middle of the match.

Dahani’s pace stunned both the batsmen and the crowd. The Stallions’ chase, so close to winning, fell apart under his accurate bowling. That one over changed everything.

This was not the first time tensions affected cricket handshakes. Harbhajan skipped matches against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, and India avoided ceremonies in the Asia Cup 2025. Still, Abu Dhabi felt different. Respect filled the stadium, clear and undeniable.

No one expected a handshake to make headlines in the T10 League. Yet, in cricket, as in life, small gestures can carry big meaning. While tensions remain, this simple act showed a hint of change.