[Watch]: Hardik Pandya Dismisses Babar Azam, Celebrates with ‘Bye Bye’ Send-Off Gesture Goes Viral

When India and Pakistan face off on the cricket field, the stakes are always high. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai was no different. With both teams eyeing a crucial win, the atmosphere was electric. But what truly stole the show was Hardik Pandya’s key breakthrough and his cheeky ‘bye-bye’ send-off to Babar Azam, which quickly took social media by storm.

Match Context and Build-up

India entered this match with momentum, having secured a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their opener. Pakistan, on the other hand, was under pressure following a 60-run defeat to New Zealand. The stakes were even higher for Pakistan, making this a must-win encounter.

Pakistan made a forced change, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq as Fakhar Zaman’s replacement due to injury. Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first, aiming to post a competitive total against a strong Indian bowling attack.

Hardik Pandya’s Crucial Breakthrough

Enter Hardik Pandya. With Pakistan looking to stabilize, Pandya struck gold. He bowled a well-directed delivery that found the outside edge of Babar Azam’s bat, and KL Rahul completed a sharp catch behind the stumps. As Babar walked back, Pandya waved him off with a sarcastic ‘bye-bye’ gesture—an act that instantly went viral.

𝙃𝘼𝙍𝘿𝙄𝙆 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙋𝙎 𝙐𝙋, 𝘽𝘼𝘽𝘼𝙍 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙋𝙎 𝙊𝙐𝙏! 💥🎯

India gets the breakthrough as @hardikpandya7 forces the edge, and Babar Azam has to walk back! Game-changing moment? 🤯🔥#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar 👉 🇮🇳 🆚 🇵🇰 | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi,… pic.twitter.com/PyRBhJQeXb

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 23, 2025

Babar Azam, who had already faced criticism for his slow knock against New Zealand, once again failed to deliver under pressure. His dismissal exposed Pakistan’s middle order, which crumbled against India’s disciplined bowling attack.

Pandya didn’t just take wickets—his aggressive approach set the tone for the Indian attack. His energy on the field lifted the team’s morale, ensuring that Pakistan never settled into a rhythm.

Imam-ul-Haq’s Reckless Runout

Pakistan’s troubles began early. Imam-ul-Haq, hoping to make an impact, made a costly error by testing Axar Patel’s arm. Positioned at mid-on, Axar’s direct throw was spot-on, catching Imam well short of his crease. With both openers back in the pavilion before the end of the first powerplay, Pakistan’s batting order felt immense pressure.

Social Media Reactions to Pandya’s Gesture

As soon as the moment happened, social media exploded. Fans flooded Twitter and Instagram with memes and reactions, with many hailing Pandya’s confidence. Cricket experts weighed in, with some praising Pandya’s competitive spirit while others debated the ethics of his send-off. Babar Azam, however, remained composed in his post-match comments, stating he was focused on improving his performance.

Hardik #hardikpandya #india #pakistan #indvspak #ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar pic.twitter.com/1DFoOuryqY

— RVCJ Sports (@RVCJ_Sports) February 23, 2025

Hardik Pandya comes with extra powers against Pakistan pic.twitter.com/5rZFp3Hzem

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 23, 2025

A partnership was building between Pakistani batters and then arrived Hardik Pandya.

We have seen it before 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PTqPOjvWtE

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) February 23, 2025

Hardik Pandya repeating his masterclass 🤣🤣🔥🔥 #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/LzdQFPmJF8

— 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁 (@DilSeMemes) February 23, 2025

Gujarati knows very well how to deal with Pakistan
#INDvsPAK #HardikPandya #AxarPatel pic.twitter.com/RFFCLdh5b9

— Binod (@wittybinod) February 23, 2025