Former India cricketer slams Mohammed Amir as ‘Dhongi Baba’ after India reach T20 WC 2026 Final

India booked their place in the T20 World Cup final after edging past England by seven runs in a thrilling semi-final in Mumbai, but the on-field drama was quickly followed by sharp off-field remarks. Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu took a pointed dig at Pakistan pacer Mohammed Amir, calling him a “Dhongi Baba” for repeatedly predicting India’s early exit from the tournament.

Sidhu’s Sharp Response to Amir’s Predictions

Sidhu criticised Amir for making bold predictions throughout the tournament that India would fail to progress. In a video shared on Instagram, Sidhu mocked those who make confident forecasts and later dismiss them if they turn out to be wrong.

He said people often make predictions and later brush them aside if they fail. According to Sidhu, such behaviour reflects those who pretend to possess great wisdom despite being repeatedly proven wrong.

Sidhu pointed out that Amir had earlier predicted India would not even qualify for the semifinals and had backed West Indies and South Africa to progress further. Later, Amir also predicted England would defeat India in the semi-final.

“People around us have a big habit of making fake predictions. If it comes true, good; if not, they just brush it off. If it works, they call it an arrow; if not, they say it was just a guess. And still they continue to act like some kind of wise baba.”

“Honestly, I think such people are just fake babas. First they said India wouldn’t even qualify, wouldn’t reach the semifinals. They claimed West Indies and South Africa would go ahead. But the moment Sanju Samson made his comeback, both those teams were sent packing. And today they said England would win the semifinal, and England also got knocked out.” Sidhu said.

“So my point is, predictions don’t decide these things. Matches are decided on the battlefield. You don’t earn a throne by begging for it. Empty vessels make the most noise. That’s the whole point.” Sidhu added. 

Amir Defends His Prediction

Despite India’s win, Amir maintained that his assessment was not entirely wrong.

He praised India’s overall performance but argued that England dropped a crucial catch, which proved costly. According to Amir, if Harry Brook had held Sanju Samson’s catch, England might have chased down the target.

He also highlighted Jasprit Bumrah’s influence, saying the Indian pacer made the decisive difference between the two teams.

Samson and Bumrah Shine in High-Scoring Contest

The semi-final itself turned into a run-fest. After being asked to bat first, India posted 253 for 7, the highest total in a T20 World Cup knockout match.

Sanju Samson starred with a stunning 89 off 42 balls, striking eight fours and seven sixes. England fought back strongly, with Jacob Bethell smashing 105 off 48 deliveries, but India kept their composure in the closing stages.

India March On to the Final

With Jasprit Bumrah delivering crucial overs at the death, England finished on 246 for 7, falling just seven runs short.

India’s dramatic victory not only sealed their place in the final against New Zealand but also delivered a fitting response to the predictions that had doubted their campaign.