NEW DELHI: The legendary India-Pakistan rivalry received a nostalgic boost as former cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar recreated their iconic 2010 Asia Cup spat in a lighthearted video that has since gone viral.
The playful exchange, captured on the sidelines of ILT20 2025 — where both legends of the game were the league ambassadors and commentators — reignited memories of one of cricket’s most heated moments while setting the stage for the much-anticipated 2025 Champions Trophy clash between the two nations.
During the high-pressure 2010 Asia Cup match, Harbhajan and Shoaib were involved in an intense verbal battle that culminated in the Indian off-spinner smashing a crucial six off the Rawalpindi Express, sealing India’s victory.
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Their heated exchange at the time symbolised the fierce competitive spirit of Indo-Pak encounters.
However, in the years since, both players have moved past the on-field tension and developed a camaraderie built on mutual respect.
Shoaib’s recent social media post featuring their reenactment of the incident was met with widespread amusement, showing that the once-fiery moment has now become a cherished cricketing memory.
Posting the video on X (formerly Twitter), Akhtar wrote, “That’s our way of getting ready for Champions Trophy. @harbhajan_singh kee kehnday oh?”
Watch:
The lighthearted banter between the two ex-cricketers arrives at the perfect moment, adding an extra layer of nostalgia and excitement as fans gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, the tournament will witness yet another high-stakes showdown between India and Pakistan on February 23 — one that is sure to reignite old memories while scripting new ones.
India squad for Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.:
Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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