India Champions refused to play Pakistan in WCL 2025 in two matches including semi-finals.
During the competition, the Indian Champions team forfeited both of their games against Pakistan, including the semifinals. Pakistan, which included players such as Shahid Afridi, advanced to the final but lost to South Africa Legends.
The World Championship of Legends event took place following the Pahalgam terror attacks, which killed 26 Indian citizens. This led to the Indian government carrying out Operation Sindoor.
“I had already told the organizers two months before the event that I wouldn’t play against Pakistan. Because for me, I feel that whatever happened—the terror attacks, Operation Sindoor, and the war—was still very raw, and my soul wasn’t ready to play. So I didn’t play. And that time, I had already told them that I didn’t want to play. And even when I went there, I didn’t feel right playing against Pakistan at that moment. And that time, there was a little bit of internal sadness because of how things happened; the way our Indians, our Hindu brothers, were attacked—that was very wrong. So, that hurt remained. That’s why I respected that hurt, and I went with that,” Dhawan said on an appearance on the Figuring Out With Raj Shamani podcast.
“It’s very unfortunate that these things happen in this era. See, someone’s family—their whole family—was destroyed. Poor people, they had just gone for a trip. The family was destroyed. It’s a very sad thing,” he added.
While the India Champions team forfeited the games, the Indian squad competed against Pakistan in three games at the recent Asia Cup, winning all three.
Asked what he thought about India playing Pakistan at the Asia Cup, Dhawan said, “If the government says we should play Pakistan in the Asia Cup, then we should play.”
Dhawan was also asked about the atmosphere when India played against Pakistan in a cricket game, back when he was playing in the Indian team.
“The atmosphere is different. The whole environment changes. Both sets of fans come with full intensity. Everything is driven by the environment. The atmosphere builds up. The India-Pakistan atmosphere starts building up two to three days in advance. All the Indian fans will come, and the Pakistani fans will come. They’ll gather below the hotel. Drums are playing, they’re dancing, they’re singing, and when you step out for the match, all the fans are there, Indian and Pakistani both, and they are shouting. There is a noise during the match. So, it’s a different, very electrifying energy environment. A different, different atmosphere.
As a player, the goal is always to perform well. We have to do well against them, we have to win against Pakistan, and it’s essential to make our country win… It’s fun to beat them. That was fun. Like when I scored a century in the Asia Cup, I told everyone there that I would tell my grandparents that I beat Pakistan. It’s a different level of competition and a different energy altogether,” Dhawan stated.