Shikhar Dhawan reveals why he chose to boycott India vs Pakistan Matches in WCL 2025

Shikhar Dhawan’s decision to boycott the matches of India vs Pakistan in the World Legendary Championship (WCL) 2025 was rooted in a personal conviction and a feeling of national solidarity, rather than any coercion or external directive.

Shikhar Dhawan explains his decision to boycott the matches against Pakistan

After Pahalgam’s tragic terrorist attack in April, emotions crossed India, with general public indignation in the face of engaging in a cricket match – although among retired players – Pakistan. The online backlash was immediate and intense when the group phase India vs Pakistan Perfe was scheduled for June 20. Faced with this feeling, Dhawan, alongside several other Indian legends like Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina, announced his withdrawal from the match. The game was then canceled by the organizers of the WCL, who apologized to Indian players for “Unintentionally provoking discomfort.”

The controversy did not end there. Fate once again opposed India to Pakistan in the semi-finals, but the Indian team led in part by Dhawan’s provocative position, again refused to play. As before, the match was canceled and Pakistan went to the default final. The events raised questions in the media and among the fans: was boycott a result of directive cricket control council in India (BCCI) or government authorities? Rumors have also swarmed on the pressure of sponsors and cricket administrators.

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“My country means everything for me, and nothing is above the nation”: Dhawan

In a recent interview, Dhawan set the record straight. He said, “I was personally against playing the match against Pakistan, and it was a conscious decision that I made. Some of the others, including Bhajji Paa (Harbhajan Singh), have also chosen not to participate in this particular game. ” Dhawan underlined, “There was no pressure on the part of anyone. Some of us were simply uncomfortable to play against Pakistan, and we saw no convincing reason to go ahead and participate in the game.” He stressed that for him, the nation comes first: “My country means everything for me, and nothing is above the nation.” These remarks clearly show that the boycott came from the collective conscience of the players, many of which were emotionally affected by the attack by Pahalgam and estimated that the game could send the bad message.

Dhawan’s position was taken over by other senior Indian players who have collectively decided that, in the current circumstances, participation in a match against Pakistan was not aligned with their values or their public feelings. This unified Indian legends front prompted the organizers to respect their decision, despite the disappointment of fans and reactions at the level of certain districts of the Cricket community.

Dhawan’s clear and direct explanation has been largely supported by the Indian public, strengthening the concept that in time of national pain, certain gestures – like boycotting a cricket match against a rival nation – transcend the limits of sport itself.

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