Irfan Pathan Revives Sunday Joke as India Defeats Pakistan in Asia Cup
The contest on the field was barely a contest. The real sting came a few minutes later, from a familiar voice on social media.
As India’s women wrapped up a ruthless seven‑wicket demolition of Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Saturday, Irfan Pathan went back to an old favourite. Four words on X, nothing more.
“Aaj Sunday hai kya?”
No explanation. None needed. The post rocketed across timelines, instantly recalling his barbed refrain from last year, when India’s men beat Pakistan in three T20Is on consecutive Sundays and Pathan needled the neighbours with, “Sunday kaisa raha padosiyo”. That line became a running gag. This time, the women’s team handed him the perfect sequel.
Spin twins shred Pakistan
The joke landed because the cricket had already done the heavy lifting.
Harmanpreet Kaur read the surface early, turned to spin, and watched Pakistan’s innings unravel. What began as a steady platform ended in a full-blown collapse.
Pakistan reached 27 without loss in just over four overs, Muneeba Ali on 13 and Shawaal Zulfiqar on 14 looking composed enough. Then the spinners tightened the screws. The scoreboard froze, the dots piled up, and panic followed.
Shree Charani, just 22 and bowling left-arm orthodox, was relentless. She finished with 3 for 7 from her four overs, a spell that ripped the heart out of the chase and left Pakistan groping for answers. At the other end, 24-year-old leg-spinner Prema Rawat matched her for menace, taking 3 for 9 in her full quota.
Shafali Verma chipped in with 1 for 10 from three overs, before Deepti Sharma applied the final cut, taking 2 for 5 in 3.1 overs. By the time the last wicket fell, Pakistan had stumbled to 55 all out in 18.1 overs – their lowest total in T20 cricket.
The raw numbers told their own story: 78 dot balls in 18.1 overs. More than 13 overs’ worth of deliveries where Pakistan simply could not score. Once Muneeba and Shawaal departed, six wickets tumbled for just nine runs. From 27 without loss to 36 for 6 after 10 overs. The innings never recovered.
Harmanpreet’s landmark, India’s statement
For Harmanpreet Kaur, the day carried a personal milestone even before the first ball was bowled. She walked out as captain for the 150th time in T20 internationals, the first India skipper – male or female – to reach that mark.
She celebrated it in the most Harmanpreet way possible: by unleashing her bowlers and then finishing the job herself.
Chasing 56 was never going to test India’s batting depth, but Pakistan at least managed to strike a few blows. Shafali Verma fell for 12, Smriti Mandhana for 9, and Pratika Rawal for 4. Three wickets down, but the chase barely broke stride.
Harmanpreet stayed in control, Deepti Sharma alongside her. They knocked off the runs in a hurry, refusing to let the game drift into a formality. India cruised to 57 for 3 in just 8.4 overs, Harmanpreet unbeaten on 18, Deepti on 12 not out, the result sealed with a clean swing down the ground for six from the captain.
It was emphatic. It was familiar.
India have now won seven of their eight Women’s T20 Asia Cup clashes against Pakistan. The lone Pakistan victory stands as an outlier against a backdrop of Indian dominance in this rivalry at tournament level.
So when the winning six sailed over the ropes and the teams shook hands, the script felt well-worn. India in control, Pakistan outplayed, and Irfan Pathan waiting with another pointed reminder.
“Aaj Sunday hai kya?” he asked.
On this evidence, for Pakistan, it felt like one of those Sundays all over again.
