If there’s one thing that sets hearts and minds aflutter and fingers racing across the keyboard, it’s the over-the-top excitement of an India-Pakistan confrontation on the cricket pitch.
And with the semi-finals featuring Bangladesh and England as well, the Champions Trophy final in London is rousing all kinds of feelings of historical déjà vu for Indian fans, who are seeing more than a passing parallel to 1947 and thereafter.
1947 reloaded #ENGvPAK #IndVsPak pic.twitter.com/XBvrQ3Jtu5
— Shiv (@ShivrajKumaawat) June 14, 2017
Over half a billion people are expected to tune into this 'battle of battles' at 3pm on Sunday.
But while there is still time for the battle at the Oval, the war of memes online, is already in full swing.
It began as soon as India won the semi-finals against Bangladesh, with these Father's day memes.
get ready to loose in finals Again #PAKvENG #ENGvPAK #CT17 #IndVsPak pic.twitter.com/YLYxuCyy1Y
— MOHIT VYAS (@vmohit0906) June 14, 2017
(Translation: Will have to play with our father again)
By the time the morning of the India-Pakistan final came around, the memes had graduated into full-fledged patriotism. And where there’s patriotism, there’s got to be a nod to the jawan standing on the border too.
Pic1:Indian cricket fans during normal days.
— Arvind Mishra (@gr8arvind) June 14, 2017
Pic2: Indian cricket fans during #IndVsPak pic.twitter.com/H1Bpbvkcva
(Translation: All preparations are ready. I will be watching LoC, Border and Lakshya back to back till the match)
And since it’s 2017, aka the year of Baahubali, SS Rajamouli's magnum opus gets roped in too, the action moving from Mahishmati to the Oval.
(Translation:
Baahubali: What happened Devasena?
Devasena: My brother keeps taking away the remote. Even today when the match is on, he will do this. So I chopped how his fingers.
Baahubali: You are wrong Devasena. When somebody disturbs an India vs Pakistan match, you should not cut off their fingers. You should cut off their heads.)
(Translation: If somebody lays a hand on the remote during an India Pakistan match, assume that you have touched Baahubali's sword)
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi can’t sit this one out.
(Translation: Go to sleep my countrymen, Surgical strike 2 takes place tomorrow)
And for the hardcore fan, the dearest relationships take a backseat when it comes to India-Pakistan matches!
But, amidst the frenzy, there are always a few good souls gunning for peace.
All in all, the memes have set the pitch for the biggest faceoff India will see this year and as always, the best team will win. And as always, for the Indian Twittersphere, there’s only one team that can claim that title.
