New Delhi: For Indians on Monday, it was Dil khush ho gaya’ everywhere. But commentators in Pakistan attacked their cricket team as “Sunday leaguers” and “amateurs” after they went down meekly to the rampaging Men in Blue in a crucial Asian Cup match in Colombo.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) reminded us that the massive 228-run win in the Super Four match was India’s biggest victory margin over Pakistan in an ODI.
Of the many records broken and made at the R Premadasa Stadium Monday was the 233-run unbeaten stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, which trounced the 231-run partnership between Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar in Sharjah in 1996.
Any victory for either team is enough to ignite passion on both sides of the border, but a humiliating one such as Monday’s – India 356, Pakistan 128 – brought out the best and the worst commentaries.
“Well played,” tweeted batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, noting that India’s top six batsmen – Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Kohli, Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Hardik Pandya had scored runs in the two matches the team has played in Asia Cup so far.
However, former cricketer Irfan Pathan’s post on micro-blogging site X drew sharp reactions. “khamoshi chaai hui hai kaafi🤐 lagta hai padosiyo ne Tv ke sath sath mobile bhi tod diye hai…,” he posted, taking a dig at the citizens of Pakistan who, according to him, must have smashed their cellphones and TVs after the loss.
khamoshi chaai hui hai kaafi🤐 lagta hai padosiyo ne Tv ke sath sath mobile bhi tod diye hai…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 11, 2023
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag’s congratulatory post injected some national and political fervour into the cricketing triumph, as he high-fived “Bharat” for a great win. “Peaking at the right time. And a proper thrashing. Kuldeep Yadav sensational, going to be trump card in the World Cup. Jai Ho,” he said on X.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajeev Shukla said the victory was “beyond people’s imagination” and a “huge achievement”.
Amid the deluge of congratulatory messages, BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah pointed out that Monday’s match had a viewership of 2.8 crore concurrent users – beating the previous highest of 2.52 crore during the India-New Zealand World Cup semifinal in 2019.
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Tears and cheers across the border
Disappointment was obvious on the other side of the border as this embarrassing defeat came close on the heels of Pakistan losing the ODI No. 1 spot to Australia. With India third in ranking, Monday’s win heated up the race to be No. 1 before the ICC Men’s World Cup in October.
Commentator Marahim Danial Naqvi unfavourably wrote of the team members: “And just like that, the superheroes, the invincibles, the world beaters suddenly appear Sunday leaguers, punching bags and amateurs.”
“There was no reason for (captain) Babar Azam’s men to melt like they did against India over two days, and yet they did,” Naqvi wrote in Dawn, adding. “They bowled badly, fielded horrendously, but saved their absolute vintage worst for the last and got bundled out for a mere 128 chasing 356.
Pakistan fans were expectedly dejected, with one Maroof Zazai from Afghanistan weighing in, saying that “Babar and his team has to work on how to handle pressure.”
Another lambasted the team for their lack of “aggression and intention”, while one Akhtar Jamal questioned why the world’s No 1 player Babar Azam and his batters Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman could not score centuries on the same pitch where Kohli and Rahul ran riot.
It was, of course, not all gloom and doom in the neighbouring country.
Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar lauded India’s comprehensive victory, but was sure that Pakistan would bounce back in the series.
Comprehensive victory for India. But Pakistan can bounce back and they will. India completely dominated this one. pic.twitter.com/hCGcntKoK6
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 11, 2023
Fan Asad Abdullah said Monday’s outcome was a loyalty test for Pakistanis. He captioned a photo of Babar Azam: “The captain who took his side to a world cup final and semifinal in two consecutive years and his team to No 1 in ODI will be back. A loyalty test for many. The seasonals can have a good laugh, good for them. We’re here to stay. Till the end. See you soon. Again.”
(Edited by Prashant)