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In a thrilling T20 World Cup encounter, the Indian cricket team emerged victorious against Pakistan, securing a nail-biting win by a margin of six runs.

The much-anticipated match lived up to its hype, with emotions running high on both sides of the border until everything changed.

Batting first after losing the toss, India faced a formidable Pakistani bowling attack. Despite a shaky start, with no batsman apart from Rishabh Pant managing to reach double figures, the Indian team posted a modest total of 119 runs in 19 overs.

Pakistan commenced their chase with optimism but was soon met with resistance from the Indian bowlers. Despite a promising first 10 overs, the Pakistani batting order struggled to maintain momentum against the tight bowling of the Indian team — Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional spell earned him the coveted title of Man of the Match.

Despite efforts from individual players, notably Naseem Shah, who exhibited determination until the very end, Pakistan fell agonizingly short of the target, ultimately losing by a slender margin of six runs.

The aftermath has witnessed memes, but mostly, disappointed reactions from fans. Memes were a constant during the match, especially when Pakistan was bowling — and until then, winning.

Exhibit A:

Naseem Shah was a recurring theme for the Pakistani X brigade

Celebrities were also spotted celebrating

It’s not over till it’s over

But it wasn’t long before it dawned on fans that the tides had turned in India’s favour and it might be too late for the green shirts.

The match ended with many expressing solidarity with standout performers like Naseem Shah. Some Pakistani fans humorously declared their “resignation” from the Pakistani cricket team fandom.

Beneath the banter and the disappointed tweets lies Pakistan’s deep-seated passion for cricket — a sentiment that has long transcended victories and defeats. However, for the first time, it seems Pakistanis are struggling to find comfort in the hopes of a “next time”. Especially after our embarrassing loss against the US just a few days ago and now, our loss to India.

In the words of Asim Azhar and Hasan Raheem