'The Tortoise and Rabbit story' - R Ashwin takes jibe at Babar Azam over sedate knock against New Zealand

Champions Trophy 2025 hosts Pakistan were handed a comprehensive defeat by New Zealand in the first game of the event on February 19 at the National Stadium in Karachi. After allowing New Zealand to reach 320 runs, Pakistan looked jittery from the start as they came out to chase. They were dealt and huge blow in the first innings as opener Fakhar Zaman sustained injury. 

As the wickets fell at the other end, Babar Azam held one end firm and tried building partnerships to save the game. However, he consumed too many deliveries in the process as the required run rate kept increasing. In the end, Babar got out scoring 64 off 90 while his partner Salman played a contrasting knock, scoring 42 off just 28 deliveries. Referring to the stark difference in the approach of the two batters, former India spinner R Ashwin took a 'Tortoise and Rabbit' jibe at Babar.

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“Babar’s journey to 50 coupled with Salman Ali Agha’s batting has to be the best depiction of “ The Tortoise and Rabbit story”. #ChampionsTrophy The 50 I hope will come soon enough,” Ashwin tweeted on ‘X’. 

Here's Ashwin's latest tweet on 'X': 

We were looking at something around 260: Mohammad Rizwan

The key difference in the game was centuries by Will Young and Tom Latham. They both batted well and shot up the scoring from below six runs per over mark. After the loss, Pakistan skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, highlighted the impact of Kiwi duo on the game and admitted that target soared beyond their expectations.

“They made a good target, we didn't expect that. We were looking at something around 260. We tried our best and used all tactics, but they played well and put up a good target. We see the pitch conditions, earlier the pitch wasn't easy to bat but when Will Young and Latham got together batted it got easier.