Out-of-contention Ishan Kishan became a victim of social media backlash after the India wicketkeeper was pictured hugging Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas during a County Championship match on Monday. The clip went viral in no time and set the internet abuzz, months after India’s military showdown against Pakistan, named as Operation Sindoor, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
The incident took place after Abbas and Kishan, playing for Nottinghamshire, combined to dismiss Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth for a golden duck. Abbas, who has played 30 international games (27 Tests and 3 ODIs) for Pakistan, dished out a length delivery for Lyth.
The ball took an outside edge for Kishan to do the rest behind the stumps. What followed was the Indian hugging his Pakistani teammate, not knowing that it would divide the internet. While most fans found the moment heartwarming, several called for boycotting Kishan.
