Why is Prafull Billore, aka 'MBA Chai Wala', supporting South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 Final?

The much-anticipated ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final has started at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados. Both India and South Africa have showcased impeccable form throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated.

The Unlikely Supporter: Prafull Billore and his ‘Reverse Jinx’

In an interesting twist to the final, Indian entrepreneur Prafull Billore, famously known as MBA Chaiwala, has become a viral sensation on social media. Despite being an Indian, Billore is humorously supporting South Africa, a trend that has caught the attention of many cricket enthusiasts.

The ‘Panauti’ (bad luck) memes began circulating after Billore posted a selfie with Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav. Billore shared the photo on X (formerly Twitter) on June 21, and the next day, Yadav scored only six runs in a T20 match against Bangladesh. This coincidence led to playful speculation about Billore’s supposed jinx effect.

Turning Tides: Billore’s embrace of the meme culture

Instead of shying away from the trolling, Billore leaned into the joke. He began posting edited photos of himself with players from teams facing India, claiming to use his “jinx” power against them.

Before the semi-final against England, Billore shared doctored images featuring himself with English cricketers Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, humorously asserting his reverse jinx ability. Following India’s decisive 68-run victory over England, Billore’s antics were celebrated by netizens.

Billore’s tweets before final showdown

Billore has now extended his reverse jinx support to the South African team, sharing images of himself with their players and even posing in front of the South African flag with the hashtag #Istandwithsouthafrica. This quirky narrative has added an extra layer of excitement to the final.

As India prepares to take on South Africa in Barbados, Billore’s reverse jinx has become a part of the pre-match buzz. The Indian team is eager to end its ICC trophy drought, having last won an ICC title in 2013. With the memory of recent losses in the WTC Championship and ODI World Cup final in 2023 still fresh, India’s quest for victory is more intense than ever.

Tonight’s final is set to be a thrilling encounter, and cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see if Billore’s meme magic will have any impact on the outcome.