NEW DELHI: Emotions ran high as Hardik Pandya dismissed Pakistan batter Babar Azam in what was an early blow for the Men in Green during the high-stakes clash at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday.
Following a steady start to the innings against India, Pakistan openers, Babar and Imam-ul-Haq, were looking to pose a long-standing partnership when Pandya struck.
And as it happened, it was Pandya’s intense send-off that grabbed eyeballs.
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Babar, who had made a positive start with five crisp boundaries in his 23 off 26 balls, attempted a cover drive off a slightly back-of-length delivery from Pandya.
However, the ball found the outside edge of his bat and nestled safely in KL Rahul’s gloves, sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.
As the Indian players rejoiced, Pandya turned up the heat with a bold ‘bye-bye’ wave directed at Babar, a gesture that instantly went viral.
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With Pakistan opting to bat first, their innings started with promise but soon encountered trouble.
Babar, who looked set for a big innings, became the first wicket to fall at 41 in the ninth over. The frustration of losing their opening batter early was evident in the Pakistan dressing room, while Indian fans erupted with joy.
The dismissal was a crucial moment, as Pandya’s aggressive intent with both ball and attitude set the tone for India.
The gesture from Pandya added fuel to the already intense rivalry between the two cricketing giants.
Social media exploded with reactions, with fans divided over whether it was pure passion or an unnecessary display of aggression. Regardless, the moment has only added another chapter to the heated history of India-Pakistan encounters.
