Fun is part of the game

Manpriya Singh 

It was a sad day for those who built castles in the air, catapulting Indian team to a direct entry into the World Cup. Remember the picture of Virat sitting next a trophy. Since it didn’t happen, our master, Mr Kohli and all his Jacks came tumbling one after the other, the social media decided to make the most of the situation. Some of the best humour usually comes out of pathos, which is just what we saw for as long as the Indian tour at ICC World Cup lasted. 

By far, Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s yawn during the crucial India Pakistan match was the most ‘famous’ or ‘criminal’ yawn to have ever happened. Such was the hullabaloo over the captured moment that it made the captain speak for himself, “Yawning is normal. Did not commit a crime.”  And what about the moody obstinate English weather?  It may have ruined the India New Zealand match, but added to our list of excuses for not winning. “Calm Down! India is a good one-day team not a two day team, ICC have cheated us,” so went one of the viral whatsapp forward. Recall India’s seven wicket win over Sri Lanka? While everyone was busy applauding Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah, the cameras zoomed in on something much more interesting —Yuzvendra Chahal chilling by the boundary line. 

Who’s hand?

Talking of chilling, while Team India was chilling on their day out during the tour, we had a mystery to solve. Hardik Pandya’s viral photo with Dhoni and the boys made the internet speculate about whose hand was placed on Rishab Pant’s shoulder?  Within hours of being shared, Hardik’s picture was re-tweeted almost 8,000 times and garnered over 16 lakh likes and attracted almost 12,000 plus comments.  We’re sure, together they solved the mystery. 

Let’s share the joke 

Trust him to humour himself and everyone around even in his dreams. Ask him about the hilarious memes doing the rounds on social media and Khayali actually shares a dream (nightmare, depends) he had a couple of days ago. “Dhoni is out, telling his teammates, ‘Bhai I’ve packed my bags, now you do the same. By the way, my clothes must have dried on the clothespin, so please get them along when you come.’

Ask TV actor Gunjan Utreja, (by the way he’d like to see the final between New Zealand and England now, and is rooting for New Zealand to take home the trophy ) about one funny meme or moment or video and he starts with the one that he himself made a meme on. “You remember the Indian-Pakistan match and how tense things were. There was so much of pressure and not just because of the game. During the match there was a time when things could go either way and we see this picture of the captain Sarfaraz Ahmed yawning. I think that was hilarious.”  

Most ‘memed’ lady 

As the ‘first lady’ of Indian cricket team, Anushka Sharma, can take home the trophy for being the most ‘memed’ dame of the tournament. Starting with her being seen in the picture of the Indian cricket team, which was objected to in a funny way (and also seriously) by some fans. Then, of course, who can forget her asking about the ‘four sign?’ “Was that a four sign?” She was clearly seen asking in a video.