NISSHIN: During their thrilling Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition final here at the Karogi Sports Park, Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub annoyed Indian supporters on Saturday by giving their 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a baby-cradle send-off.
Ayub bowled a length delivery right outside off-stump on the opening delivery of the third over of India’s first innings. Sooryavanshi attempted a reverse sweep on it, but the extra bounce caused the ball to deflect off his gloves and go to wicketkeeper Usman Khan.
Sooryavanshi, who managed to score 15 off nine deliveries, was given a baby cradle send-off by Ayub, who enthusiastically welcomed the dismissal as Pakistan’s first breakthrough in the intense match.
However, the Indian supporters were not pleased with Ayub’s celebration and farewell to Sooryavanshi. They took to social media to express their disapproval, and many of them insulted the Pakistani all-rounder.
Ayub “has to learn” how to bat from Sooryavanshi, according to an Indian fan who posted on X, the former Twitter, while another asserted that the young opener had accomplished more at the age of 15 than he could at 25.
It should be remembered that Sooryavanshi’s departure remained Ayub’s only wicket in the match. He then gave up 47 runs in his allotted four overs as India amassed a massive 211/6 in their 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma.
Tum jeeto ya haro, this was the best moment, paisa vasool. pic.twitter.com/XK2seB4Ip8
— Syed Majeed (@Cricket_Plus_US) October 3, 2026
As Pakistan failed to chase down the 220-run total, he also struggled in the field, missing two catches and eventually managing just 22 off 29 deliveries.
An Indian fan with the alias Imravindrabisht said that Pakistan lost the game as soon as Ayub performed the baby cradle celebration, citing Ayub’s awful performance in all three areas.
Additionally, while fielding close to the boundary later in India’s innings, Ayub was the target of insulting jeers and taunts from Indian supporters; a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Since the event, Indian fans have also posted similar disparaging remarks against Ayub on a number of social media channels.
