Snehashish roy
Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan was among the throng of enthusiastic celebrities who cheered loudly for the Indian cricket team after their decisive victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Amitabh shared a celebratory tweet that included a playful jab at former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar. The jibe was in direct response to an earlier gaffe by Shoaib, who, while discussing the game on a cricket talk show, mistakenly referred to Abhishek Bachchan instead of young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma.
How Amitabh Bachchan Seizes the Opportunity
In his characteristic style, Amitabh Bachchan seized the opportunity to tease Shoaib Akhtar while lavishing praise on Team India’s performance. He specifically lauded “Abhishek Bachchan” for playing well, humorously echoing Shoaib’s mix-up. Amitabh’s tweet not only celebrated the victory but also carried a strong nationalistic sentiment, referring to the defeated team as the “dushman” (enemy). His full tweet read: “T 5516(i) -Jeet gaye !! Well played, ‘Abhishek Bachchan’.”
He continued, adding a poetic flourish that linked Shoaib’s verbal slip to Pakistan’s defeat: “Udhar jabaan ladkhadai, aur udhar, bina batting bowling fielding kiye, ladkhada diya dushman ko!! Bolti bandh (We Won! Well played ‘Abhishek Bachchan. Their tongue slipped, and without batting, bowling, and fielding, you defeated the enemy. They are speechless now)!! (Laughing face emojis). Jai Hind! Jai Bharat! Jai Maa Durga!!!!”. The tweet perfectly encapsulated the celebratory mood, the friendly banter, and the underlying national pride, combining humor with patriotic fervor. The reference to the “tongue slipped” directly recalled Shoaib’s viral error, making Amitabh’s comment a clever and timely response.
The Genesis of the “Abhishek Bachchan” Cricket Conundrum
The amusing mix-up originated earlier when Shoaib Akhtar was analyzing Pakistan’s chances in the Asia Cup final against India on the cricket talk show Game On Hai. In what quickly became a widely shared clip, Shoaib mistakenly said, “If Pakistan get Abhishek Bachchan out early on in a hypothetical situation, then what is going to happen with the middle-order? Their middle-order hasn’t performed well.” The unintentional gaffe immediately caught the attention of viewers and fellow panelists.
The other guests on the show were quick to correct Shoaib, pointing out that he clearly meant to say Abhishek Sharma, the promising young Indian opener who has been in stellar form, delivering back-to-back half-centuries. The video of Shoaib’s slip-up went viral across social media platforms, drawing widespread amusement and becoming a trending topic among cricket and Bollywood fans alike.
Actor Abhishek Bachchan himself had a witty and humble reaction to the viral video. He shared a link to the news on X and humorously responded, “Sir, with all due respect… don’t think they’ll even manage that! And I’m not even good at playing cricket.” His self-deprecating humor further amplified the lighthearted nature of the incident, endearing him to many who appreciated his ability to take a joke.
The Asia Cup final itself was a thrilling encounter. During Sunday’s match, a crucial half-century by Tilak Varma, combined with his valuable partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, played a pivotal role in Team India’s triumph. India secured their second T20I Asia Cup title and their overall ninth title, including the ODI editions, beating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a nail-biting final held in Dubai. The match began with India winning the toss and electing to field first, a decision that ultimately paid off, leading to a memorable victory that was celebrated by millions, including Bollywood’s biggest stars.