Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan had a field day trolling the Pakistan cricket team after former pacer Shoaib Akhtar made a hilarious mix-up on live TV, confusing Indian opener Abhishek Sharma with the actor.
The gaffe occurred on the cricket talk show Game On Hai, where Shoaib was analysing Pakistan’s chances in the Asia Cup 2025 final. He said, “If Pakistan get Abhishek Bachchan out early… what will happen to their middle order?”
The panel quickly corrected him, clarifying he meant the young Indian opener, who has been in stellar form with back-to-back half-centuries. The slip instantly went viral online.
Abhishek Bachchan’s witty response
Abhishek Bachchan, known for his witty social media presence, responded with a tongue-in-cheek remark: “Sir, with all due respect, don’t think they’ll even manage that! And I’m not even good at playing cricket.” His playful jab delighted fans and added humor to the pre-final buzz.
Shoaib had recently praised Pakistan after their thrilling Super 4 victory over Bangladesh, highlighting that dismissing Abhishek Sharma early would be key to challenging India, who remain unbeaten in the tournament. Sharma has scored 248 runs in five matches, including a 39-ball 74 in the Super 4 clash against Pakistan and a 13-ball 31 in the group stage.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s mindset, Shoaib urged the team to attack India fearlessly, break their aura, and take the game to the Men in Blue rather than playing conservatively.
Shoaib Akhtar called on the Pakistan team to bring the same determination and fighting spirit against India, stressing that the right mindset would be crucial in taking on the formidable Men in Blue.
“We need to break out of this mindset, break down the hawa (aura) that has been built around the Indian team, and go in with the same attitude we had today against Bangladesh. Take India on. That’s the kind of attitude you need. And please remember we don’t need to go in thinking we have to bowl 20 overs. No! We need to get them out. When you go out to get them out, even India will realise they have to fight to score runs and that they won’t get any free runs,” Akhtar said on the Game On Hai show on PTV Sports.
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