Why Ather Energy CEO shared this most-popular ‘Pakistan cricket fan’ meme with Nikhil Kamath – Times of India

In a playful exchange on social media platform X, a friendly jab has been exchanged between Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath and Tarun Mehta, CEO of electric vehicle (EV) startup Ather Energy.

Nikhil Kamath’s comment
Kamath, who recently acquired a significant stake in Ather Energy, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his experience with the brand. He revealed his purchase of an Ather scooter, but with a humorous caveat: “Every one of us has pluses and minuses, Ather has sh*t marketing but great product (sorry Tarun). PS: I bought this scooter at MRP, Tarun (Mehta) didn’t even give me a discount.”


Ather CEO Tarun Mehta’s response
Ather CEO Tarun Mehta took the comment in stride, crafting a witty response using a popular Pakistani cricket fan meme. The meme featured the cricket fan, Sarim Akhtar, with a surprised expression. Mehta captioned the meme, “Marketing team be like ‘isko discount hi dena chahiye tha’ (we should have given him a discount)”.


What behind this the ‘most-popular’ Pakistan cricket memeAs to those wondering where this ‘disappointed Pakistani cricket fan’ meme came from? It owes its origin to the Australia vs Pakistan match in the 2019 World Cup. It is the meme that made Muhammad Sarim Akhtar famous and plastered his face all over the internet. Pakistan cricket team lost the match to Australia by 41 runs after failing to chase down a target of 308 runs. What is said to be a major disappointment for the Pakistani fans is that their team failed to capitalise on the opportunities created by bowlers. On at least two occasions, Pakistan players are reported to have dropped catches that could have changed the course of the match.

Over the years, this popular meme has also been used in places that have nothing to do with cricket whatsoever.

User reactions
The lighthearted exchange between Kamath and Mehta has garnered significant attention on social media platforms. Here are some user reactions



Nikhil Kamath invests in Ather Energy Ather Energy, a Bengaluru-based startup, has been making waves in the Indian EV market. Their electric scooters are known for their sleek design, innovative features, and long-range capabilities. Nikhil Kamath recently acquired a significant stake in the EV company.

Kamath’s investment and public endorsement come at a crucial time for Ather Energy. The company is well-positioned within the rapidly growing Indian EV market, known for its sleek scooter designs and innovative technology.