Former all-rounder of the Indian National Cricket Team, Irfan Pathan, playfully mocked Pakistan after the highly-anticipated Asia Cup 2023 encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended in a no-result due to rain interference.
While the first One Day International (ODI) match between India and Pakistan since the 2019 World Cup did not produce a winner, fans witnessed an engaging battle between bat and ball in the innings that transpired.
India won the toss and opted to bat first, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill initially looking comfortable against Pakistan’s formidable new-ball bowlers. However, a brief rain interruption significantly altered the course of the game. Shaheen Afridi, the express pacer, dismissed both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for modest scores.
Subsequently, Pakistan’s express pacer joined the wicket-taking spree by removing Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, leaving India struggling at 66/4. It seemed as though India might be bowled out for a low total, but Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya mounted a remarkable rescue operation.
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Ishan Kishan contributed 82 runs, while Hardik Pandya scored 87, and their extraordinary 138-run partnership briefly shifted the momentum away from Pakistan. However, Pakistan’s bowlers made a stunning comeback by taking wickets at regular intervals, ultimately dismissing India for 266 runs in 48.5 overs.
Unfortunately, the rain prevented Pakistan from beginning their run-chase, resulting in the match between these rivals being abandoned.
Irfan Pathan, a commentator for Star Sports during the Asia Cup 2023, took to Twitter to humorously tease Pakistani fans. He suggested that Pakistan fans’ televisions were spared from destruction as a result of the rain. Irfan Pathan implied that India would have emerged victorious had the match been completed, potentially provoking Pakistani fans to react strongly and damage their television screens.
Pathan also applauded Shaheen Shah Afridi for his exceptional 4-wicket performance against India, acknowledging the high-quality bowling. Additionally, Irfan Pathan commended Ishan Kishan for his exceptional performance in the match, praising the young player for stepping up and contributing significantly to India’s recovery.