Peshawar Zalmi lifted the Pakistan Super League title after beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, giving Babar Azam his first T20 trophy as captain and setting off loud celebrations that later turned humorous when a light-hearted walk imitation drew more attention online.
The chase was one-sided. Hyderabad Kingsmen managed 129 in 18 overs, with Aaron Hardie taking 4 for 27. Hardie then scored 56 not out, steering Zalmi to the target in 15.2 overs. Babar fell for a golden duck but still finished as the tournament's top scorer.
Although it was a one-sided final, Peshawar Zalmi won it convincingly. However, it was the string of events that happened after the match that caught greater attention. During the post-match scenes,
Babar and Iftikhar Ahmed tried to copy Rohit Sharma's walk from India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 victory event.
Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed tried to copy Rohit Sharma’s iconic celebration but failed disastrously 😭🤣
- Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) May 4, 2026
Just look at Iftikhar Ahmed bro tried his best but failed badly 😂 pic.twitter.com/uPZvlnEANJ
The timing and rhythm seemed off, and the attempt soon looked awkward. Fans quickly turned the moment into memes across social platforms.
PSL 2026: Babar Azam's Remake Attempt Backfires
As Babar went forward to collect the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, some viewers again noticed echoes of Rohit's famous stride, while Iftikhar and other teammates followed. The small skit did not land as intended, yet clips spread fast. The PSL win was Zalmi's second, and their first since 2017.
Babar Azam tried to copy Rohit Sharma’s trophy pose, but he failed badly once again. He’s trying so hard to be like Rohit.😭🤣🤡
- Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) May 4, 2026
Do they have anything of their own? It seems like they just copy everything from Indians. pic.twitter.com/oOgyivM0Cs
Babar had already been part of earlier PSL-winning squads, though this was a first as a full-time captain. Across 11 matches, Babar scored 588 runs at 73.50, including three fifties and two centuries, with a strike-rate of 145.90, while Hardie's all-round display sealed a dominant final for Zalmi.
