‘Mera Desh Mere Liye…’: Shikhar Dhawan Faces Backlash Despite Withdrawing From Pakistan Clash

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has come under fire despite reiterating that he had already informed organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two months ago about his refusal to participate in any match against Pakistan. The decision, he emphasized, stemmed from personal principles amid escalating diplomatic and sporting tensions between the two nations.

On Sunday, July 20, when India was scheduled to face Pakistan in the high-voltage clash, Dhawan took to X (formerly Twitter) to reconfirm his stance, posting a message that read:

“Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳”

He backed the statement by sharing an official email sent to the WCL organisers on May 11, 2025, where he clearly communicated that he would not play in any fixture involving Pakistan.

The cricketer’s patriotism-driven explanation, however, failed to quell the online backlash. Many social media users accused him of conveniently making his position public only after the controversy surrounding Indian players’ participation in the Indo-Pak match went viral.

One user sarcastically commented,

“Bhai jab outrage hua tabhi yaad aaya ki Pakistan se khel rahe the? This is even worse.”
Another added,
“Mausam check kar rahe the bhai, garmi lagi toh peeche hat gaye 🤣”

The match itself was eventually cancelled by the organisers, who originally decided to proceed with it since Pakistan had recently toured India for hockey and other sporting events. However, with rising public anger and sentiments running high, the authorities chose to pull the plug on the match to avoid further controversy.

Despite the criticism, Dhawan stood firm on his patriotic commitment. Yet, the delayed public declaration left many wondering whether the move was a genuine pre-planned boycott or a reactive gesture amidst the storm on social media.

As sports diplomacy continues to be a sensitive topic in India-Pakistan relations, Dhawan’s stance may further ignite debate over where the line should be drawn between personal conscience, patriotism, and public responsibility in sport.