'Hum dispresan mein hain': Memes storm internet after Babar Azam demoted against Namibia

Colombo, 2026 – Pakistan’s Group A clash against Namibia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ended in a 102-run rout that booked the green shirts a Super-Eights berth, yet the post-match spotlight has swung toward a man who never took guard: Babar Azam. The 31-year-old, once the automatic linchpin at No. 4, watched from the dug-out as Khawaja Nafay and later Shadab Khan were promoted ahead of him, triggering a social-media avalanche of memes, one-liners and spliced voice-overs.

Team management, led by head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha, had installed Babar as the innings anchor precisely for scenarios in which early wickets tumble. Against the Netherlands and India, that plan faltered; Pakistan’s batting imploded and Babar’s blade stayed quiet. On Wednesday night, the openers gave their side a flyer, and the think-tank opted for boundary-hitters rather than the former captain’s accumulation game.

The turning point arrived in the 13th over when Agha holed out. With 50 balls remaining and the score healthy, Nafay strode in above Babar. A five-ball stay that yielded a single boundary did little to justify the shuffle, yet the next change was even more startling: Shadab Khan, a power-hitting all-rounder, walked in at No. 6 while Babar remained padded up, unseen on the giant screen until the innings closed.

Within minutes, X timelines were awash with Urdu and English barbs. “Babar Azam ko team puri krny ke liay khilaya gaya hai?” asked one user, questioning whether the batter had become a squad-filling ornament. Another clipped the viral “depression mein hain” audio over Babar’s press-conference expressions, captioned simply: “Hum dispresan mein hain.” A third tweet re-branded him “Pakistan’s designated finisher—who never finishes.”

On the field, Sahibzada Farhan rendered the debate academic, carving a maiden T20I hundred to propel Pakistan past 190. The spin trio then skittled Namibia for 89, sealing a tournament-saving victory. Still, the post-win presser is certain to revolve around one topic: at what stage, if any, does Pakistan’s most prolific run-maker of the past half-decade re-enter a batting order that appears to have moved on without him?