New Zealand’s all-rounder Jimmy Neesham found himself at the receiving end of online abuse from disgruntled Indian fans following India’s World Cup final loss to Australia. The Kiwi cricketer took to Instagram to share screenshots of the abusive messages he received via direct messaging, responding to the trolls in his characteristic witty manner.
Australia emerged victorious in the World Cup final, defeating India by six wickets at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The emotional aftermath of the loss led some Indian fans to direct their frustration at Jimmy Neesham.
Jimmy Neesham shares screenshots of abusive DMs from Indian fans on his Instagram story
In one of his Instagram stories, Neesham humorously remarked, “Didn’t watch the game last night but, uhh, I guess Aus won.” He followed up with a pointed question, asking, “What have I missed?”
The 33-year-old took the opportunity to pre-emptively fact-check the trolls, sharing a picture of himself in action with a caption that read, “People who don’t know Aus and NZ are different countries.”
Though New-Zealand couldn’t claim their 1st ever World Cup Trophy, Neesham played a vital part in New Zealand’s journey to the semi-finals. As a member of the 2023 World Cup squad, he contributed 58 runs in the game against Australia despite struggling with a finger injury. Neesham also showcased his bowling prowess by picking up two wickets in three games.
New Zealand finished fourth in the round-robin stage and faced India in the first semi-final, where they suffered a 70-run defeat at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
India’s journey to the final was marked by an unbeaten record in the group stage, boasting a 10-match winning streak. However, their dreams were dashed by Travis Head “137 (120)” and the Australian bowlers in a spectacular showdown.
The loss sparked emotions among Indian fans, some of whom inexplicably vented their frustration on New Zealand All-Arounder Jimmy Neesham.
As the cricketing community reflects on the highs and lows of the 2023 World Cup, Neesham’s humorous response to online abuse serves as a reminder of the passionate emotions that the sport can evoke among fans.
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