Pakistan's Champions Trophy Nightmare-Aakash Chopra Trolls Mohammad Rizwan For Early Exit

Pakistan's 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was a nightmare as the team was provided with an embarrassing early exit from the tournament. The defending champions were placed in the bottom slot in Group A, losing even a single game in their series. The disastrous outing invited the world to scorn, and ex-Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra was not shy to take a potshot at Pakistan white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan. Paraphrasing his own words, Chopra passed a blistering comment, "Ya toh win hai, ya toh learn hai," a quote which had gone viral in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

A Disastrous Campaign for Pakistan

Pakistan went into the Champions Trophy with great hopes, hoping to defend their title with a good performance. But that was not to be. They lost their first two matches to New Zealand and India, putting them on the verge of elimination. The last group-stage match against Bangladesh offered a thin hope of redemption, but rain dampened the party and resulted in a drawn point. As a result, Pakistan finished at the bottom of Group A with only a single point and a humiliating net run rate (NRR) of -1.087.

The poor departure relegated Pakistan to the title of worst-performing defending champions in Champions Trophy history with a record for gaining the lowest points by a title winner ever. It was such a subpar performance that the audience was left disheartened and pundits sharpened their knives.

Aakash Chopra's Sarcastic Jibe at Rizwan

While explaining the chances of semi-final qualification, Aakash Chopra couldn't resist trolling Rizwan. He remembered the previous remark by Rizwan in the PSL, where the Pakistan captain had exclaimed, "Ya toh win hai, ya toh learn hai"—i.e., "Either we win, or we learn." The slogan, meant to be an inspiration, became a catchphrase with regards to how Rizwan uttered the word "learn" and was soon converted into a speedy target of trolls on social media.

Chopra's ridicule suggested that Pakistan had learned much more than they had won during the tournament since they didn't win a single match. To further add strength to the taunting, he also tweeted another viral clip of Rizwan having trouble with English to further keep online trash talk going.

Rizwan's Response and Pakistan's Next Steps

Despite the criticism, Mohammad Rizwan remained composed in his post-match statements. Addressing Pakistan’s poor performance, he admitted the team’s shortcomings and expressed disappointment over failing to meet expectations.

"We wanted to play well and perform well in front of our nation. The level of expectations was very high. We did not play well, and it was disappointing for us. You learn from mistakes. We made mistakes in the last few matches. Hopefully, we can learn from them," Rizwan stated after Pakistan's tournament campaign.

Forward Rizwan pointed out the determination of the team to rectify their mistakes. "We are then traveling to New Zealand, and hopefully we shall be playing there and rectifying the errors which we committed against them here in Pakistan. We'll play much better in New Zealand. We are extremely dismayed. Pakistan is our top priority, and their hopes for us are enormous. We're angry, and we admit that we didn't perform well. Hope we'll become more hard working and perform better comeback."

Pakistan's Challenges-Is There an Inconsistency Pattern?

Pakistan's record in the Champions Trophy is no exception but an extension of trends of inconsistent play in big events. With good players and a passionate fan base, their failure to perform when it mattered most has been an ongoing trend. Most cricket pundits have put lack of good team selection, inability to adapt, and over-reliance on star players as major reasons for their failures.

The early withdrawal has again raised eyebrows regarding Pakistan's team management and leadership. With Rizwan as the white-ball team captain, the question of his captaincy has become more pronounced. While some believe that he requires more time to grow as a leader, others believe that Pakistan requires a more diplomatic captain who can manage pressure better in high-stakes matches.

Social Media Reactions and Memes Swamp the Internet

As expected, social media went overdrive mode with reactions, memes, and debates after Pakistan's pullout. Fans and commentators flooded Twitter and Instagram with their disappointment, anger, and hilarity. The hashtag "Ya toh win hai, ya toh learn hai" trended across all platforms with many people mocking that Pakistan had been "learning" only throughout the tournament.

Indian cricket fans were some of those who participated in the trolling, posting Aakash Chopra's trolling and Rizwan's comment. There were some Pakistani cricket fans who, however, defended their side by saying that cricket is a game of uncertainties and each team goes through bad phases.

What's Next for Pakistan Cricket?

Now in the wake of the Champions Trophy debacle, Pakistan must work on the upcoming New Zealand tour. The tour is an extremely crucial test of Rizwan and his team as they plan to turn it around and regain their fans' trust in them. The PCB also might perhaps consider reviewing their strategy, for example, seeking a change in leadership or coach change for improved tournament performances in the future.

And it is the same with Mohammad Rizwan—the pressure is building. Whether or not he is able to change his fortunes and keep the criticisms at bay, only time will tell. One thing, though—is sure: Pakistani cricket fans will be praying for the team to win more and "learn" less in the times to come.