Champions Trophy 2025: Ashwin takes hilarious ‘tortoise’ dig at Babar Azam’s innings against New Zealand

Pakistan’s Babar Azam performs a shot throughout the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – Group A match against New Zealand, at National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a refined dig at Pakistan’s premier batter, Babar Azam, for his slow-paced fifty against New Zealand within the Champions Trophy opener on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) in Karachi.

Also Read | Champions Trophy 2025: Not anxious about Shami’s meagre returns, says Rohit Sharma

In pursuit of a frightening 321-run chase, Pakistan had been in a dire scenario at 69/3 after shedding Saud Shakeel, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.

Pakistan wanted one thing important and swift from its high star, Babar. However, to everybody’s shock, the 31-year-old’s sluggish show took the defending champions away from the required goal.

While Babar scored runs at his leisure, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha raised the bar along with his belligerent strokeplay. He went from energy to energy to present Pakistan a glimmer of hope, which finally pale away.

Ashwin took a dig at Babar’s contribution throughout his 58-run partnership with Salman by evaluating it to the “Tortoise and Rabbit story.”

“Babar’s journey to 50 coupled with Salman Ali Agha’s batting has to be the best depiction of ‘The Tortoise and Rabbit story’. ChampionsTrophy,” he wrote on X.

Wickets saved falling, and the asking fee continued to surge to new heights. Khushdil Shah confirmed intent along with his late surge, however his valiant 69(49) went in useless.

The recreation crawled in the direction of its climax, and Pakistan met its destiny by crumbling to a 60-run defeat. As Pakistan swallowed the bitter style of defeat, New Zealand celebrated yet one more conquer the hosts.

The 60-run victory was the fourth successive triumph for the Kiwis against Pakistan within the CT on the trot. New Zealand’s story of success ensured they by no means misplaced a match against Pakistan within the Champions Trophy.

After enduring an emphatic defeat, the scenario isn’t trying too vibrant for Pakistan. Their subsequent match against arch-rivals India on Sunday in Dubai might show to be a digital knockout.