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A whirlwind of online banter has gripped social media, intertwining with the high-stakes geopolitical climate between India and Pakistan.
Did Shikhar Dhawan really troll Pakistan?
In the aftermath of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent retaliatory ‘Operation Sindoor’—a targeted military strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)—a seemingly innocuous image of former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan sipping tea has ignited a digital firestorm, widely interpreted as a subtle jab at the Pakistani Army. However, a closer look at the viral sensation reveals a more complex narrative, far from the immediate post-operation taunt it was perceived to be.
The genesis of this social media skirmish can be traced back to the critical remarks made by former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi on the Indian Army, whom he blamed for failing to prevent the recent Pahalgam assault.
Ex-India opener Dhawan swiftly retorted on X, reminding Afridi of India’s decisive military triumphs, including the Kargil War, and unequivocally expressing his pride in the Indian armed forces. Afridi, not one to back down, responded with a jibe of his own, inviting Dhawan for “tea”—a clear reference to the iconic “tea is fantastic” meme that has frequently surfaced in the context of India-Pakistan exchanges, particularly after past military encounters.
Following the successful execution of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a photograph of Dhawan leisurely enjoying tea in a swimming pool began to circulate furiously across social media platforms. Accompanied by the provocative caption, “Aur kaisi lagi chai padosiyon?” (How was the tea, neighbours?), the image rapidly went viral, amassing over 7 million views on X, and was widely believed to be Dhawan’s direct, meme-laden response to the recent military actions and Afridi’s earlier comments.
Aur kaisi lagi chai padosiyon 👀😜
— Shikkar Dhawen🐦 (@76off43)
However, a thorough fact-check dismantles this popular perception. Investigations reveal that the viral tea photograph was not, in fact, posted by Shikhar Dhawan in response to ‘Operation Sindoor.’ The image had been originally shared by Dhawan on his official social media accounts months earlier, on February 7, 2024, long before the recent military operation and the ensuing online spat. The current viral post originated from a parody account operating under the handle ‘Shikkar Dhawen,’ rather than Dhawan’s verified profile. Social media users and meme creators had simply repurposed the older image to create a mocking narrative aimed at Afridi and Pakistan within the context of the heightened tensions, without any direct involvement from Dhawan himself in its recent circulation or captioning.
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Shikhar Dhawan’s response on Operation Sindoor
While the ‘tea photo’ was a misattribution, Dhawan did, from his official account, address the grave situation directly. His subsequent posts read, “India takes a stand against terrorism,” and “Respect to our brave hearts for protecting our borders with such strength and stopping the drone attack on Jammu. India stands strong. Jai Hind,” articulating his support for the Indian military’s actions without resorting to memes or indirect taunts.
India takes a stand against terrorism. भारत माता की जय! 🇮🇳
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25)
Respect to our brave hearts for protecting our borders with such strength and stopping the drone attack on Jammu. India stands strong. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25)
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