And the problem in this context is even in the era of a packed calendar and punishing schedule, and moreover with cricket being played only by a handful of countries, the aforementioned opponents never met since then, in any of the three formats, for the doubting Thomases to banish those thoughts.

Cast your mind back to June 7, 2024, when Afghanistan, a landlocked country of 42 million that is perennially in the throes of strife of some kind, was submerged in a tsunami of euphoria thanks to the heroic deeds of 11 of its countrymen. For once, heartfelt and thunderous applause drowned out the incessant noise of guns and battle tanks trundling on the rugged terrain and must have even been heard by those 11 players many thousands of miles away.

Until then, Afghanistan did enjoy the reputation of pulling off giant-killing acts occasionally, but what captured everyone’s imagination that day was the consummate ease with which they accomplished it. Indeed, to term that victory an ‘upset’ after witnessing its near flawless performance would be doing injustice to the gumption and guile it demonstrated.

New Zealand, that was at the receiving end, suffered a calamitous collapse, getting bowled out for 75 eventually, while chasing 160 that gave Afghanistan its first real experience of what unadulterated bliss feels like.