New Delhi: India’s humiliating 3-0 defeat against New Zealand on the home soil has stunned Pakistanis, who are calling this ‘karma’ for mocking Pakistan’s recent losses. Some also see it as a sign of shifting dynamics in Asian cricket. Pakistani experts think this is the “perfect time” to resume bilateral cricket between the neighbours.
Pakistan’s former captain Wasim Akram too agreed on an India-Pakistan series, highlighting the potential advantages for Pakistan in future Test matches, especially on spinning pitches. Akram was talking to former England cricketer Michael Vaughan who expressed eagerness for a Test series between India and Pakistan. Akram and Vaugh were commentators during the first ODI between Pakistan and Australia in Melbourne.
Akram emphasised the massive appeal such a matchup would hold for the two cricket-obsessed nations. Vaughan remarked that with Pakistan’s recent successes in home Tests, particularly against England, they could now hold an advantage over India on spinning tracks, a sentiment Akram echoed strongly.
“I would want to see a Test series between India and Pakistan,” said Vaughan.
“Pakistan can now beat India on the turners”.
While India lost the final Test against New Zealand on a rank turner in Mumbai, Pakistan, in a recent home series against England, showcased their spin prowess to bounce back and win the series 2-1.
‘A wake-up call for India’
Pakistan cricket experts called the loss a “massive wake-up call” for India that needs to work on its top order.
Former cricketer Ramiz Raja weighed in on the situation, comparing the recent matches to a David versus Goliath scenario, suggesting that the Kiwi victory over India served as a “massive wake-up call” for the home side. He added that despite being historically less effective on spinning pitches, New Zealand capitalised on India’s struggles, highlighting “a massive transition”.
“New Zealand, traditionally a team that struggled with spin, has undergone a massive transformation. Spin bowling in Bombay was seen as a “lottery” that progressively went bad”, he said in his show, Ramiz Speaks.
He also emphasised that India must focus on improving its top order, which he characterised as “haphazard” and “spasmodic”.
Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali emphasised the misreading of pitch conditions, criticising key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their form, while praising Rishabh Pant’s performances. He noted that the Indian team might find themselves longing for the steady presence of Rahul Dravid in these challenging times.
“Indians used to make fun of Pakistan for being whitewashed and were whitewashed themselves today”, Ali said.
Also read: Maryam Nawaz wants Pakistan & India to tackle smog together. Policymakers are skeptical
‘Karma for arrogance’
Meanwhile, the fallout from India’s defeat has resonated throughout social media. Cricket analyst Wasay Habib expressed his frustrations in a lengthy critique of the Indian team, highlighting the need for substantial changes. He pointed out that India had never before been whitewashed in a three-match Test series on home soil and needed to change its strategy.
Others wasted no time in pointing out how Indians roast Pakistanis after every loss and felt like this was the right time to retrieve Irfan Pathan’s earlier tweet that asked: “how was your Sunday, neighbours?”
Journalist Arfa Feroze Zaki remarked how India, who once ridiculed Pakistan’s past failures, is now experiencing a dose of “Karma” for their arrogance.
“Indian ex-cricketers/fans mocked Pakistan a few days back for not winning the home test series. Pakistan won and gained respect! Meanwhile within the next few days India has suffered an embarrassing test series loss at home. This is called Karma and nature’s reaction to arrogance!”, he wrote on X.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)