James Neesham's Witty Response to Nepal Premier League Franchise After T20 World Cup Final

New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham made headlines with a witty Instagram reply to his franchise, Pokhara Avengers, after a stellar performance in the T20 World Cup final. Following his impressive three-wicket haul, Neesham's cheeky comment about player payments went viral, drawing attention to both his skills and the franchise's struggles. Meanwhile, India secured a decisive victory over New Zealand, claiming the T20 World Cup title for the third time. This article delves into Neesham's response and the match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 9, 2026, 20:38 IST

Neesham's Viral Instagram Reply

During the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, New Zealand's all-rounder James Neesham showcased his skills by taking three wickets. Following this impressive performance, his Nepal Premier League team, the Pokhara Avengers, took to Instagram to congratulate him. They expressed their pride in having him represent them in the previous season, highlighting his remarkable over where he secured three wickets while conceding just one run.

In their post, the Pokhara Avengers noted, “Outstanding over from Jimmy Neesham in the 16th over of the T20 World Cup Final. W 0 0 1 W W. 3 wickets, 1 run and 2 dots against India. A brilliant spell on the big stage. Unfortunate that New Zealand finished as runners-up in the final. Proud to have seen him represent Pokhara Avengers in NPL Season 2.” However, Neesham's response was both brief and pointed: “Cool, pay your players.”

This witty remark quickly gained traction online, going viral and leaving the Pokhara Avengers, who finished fifth in the last season with only three wins out of seven matches, in an awkward position.

India vs New Zealand In the final match, India claimed the T20 World Cup title for the third time, defeating New Zealand by a significant margin of 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After losing the toss, India batted first, amassing a formidable score of 255/5. Opener Sanju Samson played a stellar innings, scoring 89 runs off just 46 balls, marking his third consecutive fifty. New Zealand struggled in their chase, getting bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah excelled with figures of 4-15 in four overs, while Axar Patel contributed with 3-27 in three overs. New Zealand's Tim Seifert managed to score a quick 52 runs off 26 balls, hitting five sixes.