In a moment that delighted both cricket and Bollywood fans, actor Abhishek Bachchan delivered a characteristically witty response after former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar made a hilarious on-air blunder. During a live episode of the show ‘Game On Hai,’ Akhtar was analyzing Pakistan’s prospects in the highly anticipated Asia Cup final against India when he accidentally mentioned the actor’s name instead of opener Abhishek Sharma.
Akhtar had humorously stated, “If Pakistan gets Abhishek Bachchan out early in a hypothetical situation, then what is going to happen with the middle-order? Their middle-order hasn’t performed well.” This slip of the tongue sent the host and fellow panelists into fits of laughter before a quick correction was made.
Bachchan, known for his quick wit, wasted no time in joining the fun. Taking to a social media platform, he quoted the original post and wrote: “Sir, with all due respect… don’t think they’ll even manage that! And I’m not even good at playing cricket.”
His tongue-in-cheek reply further fueled the viral sensation, with fans inundating the comments section with memes and jokes about the amusing crossover between Bollywood and cricket.
This lighthearted gaffe occurred as India and Pakistan geared up for a monumental Asia Cup final in Dubai, marking their first title clash in the tournament’s history. Pakistan secured their spot with a tense 11-run victory over Bangladesh, while India showcased dominance by remaining unbeaten through the group stage and Super Four.
On the cricketing front, all attention remains on opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been in sensational form, smashing successive half-centuries. Kuldeep Yadav leads the bowling attack with an impressive 12 wickets, though India’s fielding has faced scrutiny with 12 dropped catches throughout the tournament. Pakistan’s hopes heavily rely on the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf with the new ball, despite concerns about their batting line-up’s vulnerability.
Akhtar’s accidental slip of the tongue may have been unintentional, but it perfectly encapsulated the unique blend of humor and intense rivalry that invariably accompanies any India-Pakistan encounter. As Bachchan playfully noted, once the final begins, it will indeed be the real cricketers, not actors, who determine the ultimate outcome.