Dubai: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan took another playful dig at Pakistan after India thrashed their arch-rivals by seven wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Saturday, with his latest “Sunday” post reviving a joke that went viral during last year’s men’s Asia Cup.

India produced a dominant performance at the Dubai International Stadium, bowling Pakistan out for just 55 runs in 18.1 overs before chasing down the target in only 8.4 overs. Shree Charani and Prema Rawat took three wickets each as India’s spinners dismantled Pakistan’s batting line-up.

Following the emphatic victory, Pathan posted a short message on X that read, “Aaj Sunday hai kya?”, or “Is it Sunday today?” The post was a clear reference to his previous social-media banter involving Pakistan during the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup.

Pathan revives his viral Sunday joke

Pathan’s latest post quickly attracted attention because of its connection to the 2025 Asia Cup.

During that tournament, India and Pakistan faced each other on three consecutive Sundays. After India defeated Pakistan in one of those encounters, Pathan had posted, “Sunday kaisa raha, padosiyo?”, asking Pakistan supporters how their Sunday had gone.

A year later, the former India cricketer brought back the same theme after India’s women’s team delivered another comprehensive victory over Pakistan.

The latest post came shortly after India completed the chase in Dubai, making the timing of the jibe particularly obvious.

Pathan’s comments were clearly framed as sporting banter following the result rather than an official statement on the match or the tournament.

India bowl Pakistan out for just 55

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and chose to bat first, but the decision backfired spectacularly.

India’s spin attack immediately put Pakistan under pressure. Shree Charani and Prema Rawat claimed three wickets apiece, while the rest of India’s bowling unit kept the Pakistan batters from establishing partnerships.

Pakistan were eventually bowled out for just 55 in 18.1 overs, leaving India with a modest target of 56.

The total represented a disastrous batting performance for Pakistan, who struggled to handle India’s disciplined bowling and the conditions in Dubai.

For India, the bowling effort provided the ideal platform for another convincing victory over their neighbours.

Harmanpreet Kaur finishes the chase

India made light work of the target.

The chase lasted only 8.4 overs, with India reaching 57 for three to win by seven wickets.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 18, while Deepti Sharma finished on 12 not out as India completed the victory with plenty of overs to spare.

The result also highlighted the gulf between the two sides on the day. Pakistan’s 55 was never likely to provide India with a serious challenge, particularly after India’s bowlers had dominated the innings.

Harmanpreet praised the team’s approach after the match and stressed the importance of maintaining high standards and being ruthless when opportunities arise.

She also credited the bowlers for sticking to their plans, reading the pitch well and executing effectively.

India complete perfect group-stage campaign

The victory gave India a perfect start to the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 group stage.

India have now won all three of their matches, collecting six points after defeating Thailand, Hong Kong and Pakistan.

Their campaign has included both dominant batting and impressive bowling performances. India began the tournament by defeating Thailand by 94 runs before registering a massive 137-run win over Hong Kong. The seven-wicket victory over Pakistan completed their unbeaten group-stage run so far.

The results have placed India in a strong position heading into the knockout stage.

Pakistan now face a must-win match

While India have secured a perfect group-stage record, Pakistan’s position is considerably more uncertain.

Pakistan’s defeat to India means they now face a must-win match against Hong Kong in their final group fixture if they are to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

The pressure will therefore be firmly on Fatima Sana’s team in their next game.

Pakistan had entered the India contest after a convincing win over Thailand, but the seven-wicket defeat has significantly complicated their route to the knockout stage.

Another India-Pakistan result fuels social-media banter

India-Pakistan matches have traditionally generated enormous attention beyond the cricket field, and Pathan has frequently participated in the social-media banter surrounding the rivalry.

His latest “Sunday” post was particularly effective because it connected Saturday night’s women’s match with his viral remarks from the men’s Asia Cup in 2025.

The post also arrived after an unusually one-sided contest. India did not merely beat Pakistan; they first restricted them to one of their lowest totals before completing the chase in fewer than nine overs.

For Indian fans, the result was another reason to celebrate. For Pathan, it provided an opportunity to revive a familiar line.

However, the focus will now shift back to the tournament itself. India have established themselves as one of the strongest sides in the competition, while Pakistan must quickly regroup and deliver against Hong Kong to remain in contention.

The Women’s Asia Cup continues until September 13, with the remaining group matches set to determine the semi-final line-up.