Kishan Kumar Singh took 2 for 33 in India Under-19 men’s team’s key win over a team that’s both noted and widely established as the country’s arch rivals in a fine contest at Dubai recently. Now while the city famous for producing a red carpet welcome for those with big moves and deep pockets is considered the beating heart of the UAE, the fast bowlers in some sense are dubbed the and soul of a cricketing contest. For after the batters make big splashes and win hearts, it all comes down to the skill and dexterity of bowlers who own the game, change the narrative as only they can and add a touch of soul to a game of cricket by fighting for this team with much candour and soul. Just come to think of it, what would a contest be, in the absence of heart and soul, more so in a crucial India and Pakistan game? And while we don’t know how that might sound or be, what one does know that there was a lot of joy in seeing a moment that, truth be told, trespassed the competitive 22 yards in the game yesterday and has since become legendary. Simple, candid, yet legendary. So what was it? Kishan Kumar Singh, the man with a fine spell of left arm fast bowling tied the shoelaces of a Pakistan batter. You read that right.
So what’s up, exactly?
In the Under-19 Asia Cup, India-U19 defeated Pakistan U19 in a commanding, one-sided match, but more than that, Indian pacer Kishan Kumar Singh’s act of sportsmanship garnered national attention. In addition to his skill with the ball, Kishan made a gesture during Pakistan’s innings that swiftly gained popularity on social media. The incident happened when Pakistani batsman Huzaifa Ehsan’s right shoelace came loose after 36 overs.
Huzaifa was having trouble tying the shoelaces at the crease, so Kishan intervened to help him. The broadcast cameras caught the moment, and it quickly went viral online, especially among Pakistani fans who commended the young Indian pacer’s behavior. Many people highlighted Kishan’s sportsmanship in spite of the fierce rivalry between the two teams in the conversations that followed the image on social media. The gesture was compared to reports about post-match formalities, according to some posts.
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