Javed Akhtar, like millions of Indians, joined the celebrations after India’s commanding victory over Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The legendary lyricist and screenwriter took to social media to express his admiration for Virat Kohli’s century, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Virat Kohli, zindabad!!! We all are so so so proud of you !!!”
Virat Kohli , zindabad. !!! . We all are so so so proud of you !!!
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) February 23, 2025
However, what should have been a moment of national pride took an unpleasant turn when a troll attempted to communalize Akhtar’s celebratory post. The comment read, “Javed. Babar ka baap Kohli hai. Bolo, Jai Shree Ram.” Not one to tolerate such divisive rhetoric, Akhtar hit back with a stinging response: “Maen to sirf yeh kahoonga ke tum eik neech insaan ho aur neech hi marogay. Tum kya jano desh prem kya hota hai.”
Another troll attempted to provoke Akhtar further by suggesting that he was secretly unhappy with India’s victory, writing, “Aj suraj kaha se nikla. Andar se dukh hoga apko to.” The veteran lyricist did not hold back in his reply. “Beta jab tumhare baap dada angrez ke jootay chaat rahe thay tab mere aazadi ke liye jai aur kala paani mein thay. Meri ragon mein desh premion ka khoon hai aur tumhari ragon mein angrez ke naukaron ka khoon hai. Iss anter ko bhoolo nahin,” he wrote, drawing a sharp contrast between his lineage of freedom fighters and those he accused of having a servile past.
India’s triumph over Pakistan in Dubai on February 23 was a thrilling contest that saw the Men in Blue dominate their arch-rivals. Pakistan, opting to bat first, put up 241 runs on the board, with notable contributions from Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46). India’s bowling attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive 3-40, ensured that Pakistan remained under pressure. When it was India’s turn to bat, Virat Kohli stole the show with an unbeaten century, well-supported by Shreyas Iyer’s composed 56. The chase was completed in 42.3 overs, giving India a comfortable six-wicket victory and marking their second consecutive win in the tournament.
While cricket united millions in celebration, Javed Akhtar’s swift and sharp retorts stood as a reminder that sports should be about passion and pride, not divisive politics. His words resonated with many, reaffirming that true patriotism is about love for the nation, not hate for others.
