April 17, 2026 05:01 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
‘Panic reaction’: Rahul Gandhi on women’s bill, says PM Modi ‘wants to send a message’ | Adani Group shares rise as Gautam Adani becomes Asia’s richest, overtakes Mukesh Ambani | TCS Nashik ‘conversion’ case accused seeks anticipatory bail citing pregnancy | IT raids TMC candidate Debasish Kumar’s premises ahead of Bengal polls | Bengal SIR: Supreme Court allows voters restored by tribunal till April 21 and 27 to vote | 'Women won't spare you': PM Modi warns Opposition over resistance to quota bill | Vijay booked in 3 cases over poll code violation ahead of Tamil Nadu polls | 'Black law': Stalin burns copy of 'delimitation' bill, slams Modi govt | TCS halts Nashik BPO operations amid sexual abuse, conversion allegations | ‘We are surprised’: SC stays Pawan Khera’s bail over remarks on Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife
Abhishek Bachchan (L) & Shoaib Akhtar (R). Photo: Official Facebook.

Abhishek Bachchan has a witty response to Shoaib Akhtar’s name mix-up ahead of India-Pak Asia Cup final

| @indiablooms | Sep 27, 2025, at 12:21 am

As anticipation builds for the high-voltage India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday, Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan added a dose of humour to the cricket frenzy.

A viral clip from the ongoing tournament showed former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar mistakenly referring to India’s rising star Abhishek Sharma as “Abhishek Bachchan” while analysing a match.

The slip quickly set social media abuzz, with fans tagging the actor in jokes and memes.

Known for his playful presence on X, Bachchan responded with a sharp quip: “Sir, with all due respect... don’t think they’ll even manage that! And I’m not even good at playing cricket.”

The tongue-in-cheek remark drew laughter online and was widely shared, turning the mix-up into a light-hearted moment ahead of Sunday’s final.

Bachchan, a passionate sports enthusiast who co-owns multiple teams across various leagues, often engages with fans during major sporting events. His latest post once again showcased his trademark humour while also reminding followers of his deep connection with sport.

Meanwhile, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson urged his players to ignore off-field controversies and focus solely on cricket in the historic clash.

“My message is just focus on cricket. That is what we would be doing… In terms of gestures, there has always been passion, hasn’t there, during high-pressure matches. Our focus would be just on playing a good game,” he said after Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh.

The victory, powered by fiery spells from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, secured Pakistan’s place in the first-ever Asia Cup final against India in 41 years.

With political tensions and disciplinary flashpoints already shadowing the tournament, Sunday’s title clash promises to be one of the most intense encounters in the history of the rivalry, now with a touch of Bollywood humour added to the build-up.

 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.