ISLAMABAD: As tensions escalated between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan, their rivalry continues to manifest in unexpected ways, particularly through the lens of sports.
While the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) captivate millions of cricket fans with their electrifying displays of skill, the digital space has also become a battleground of its own.
Former cricketers from both Pakistan and India, whose playing days are behind them, have turned to social media to express their views and engage in discourse, contributing to a rising wave of public commentary.
India –Pakistan tension at boarder has quickly emerged as a top trend across various platforms, as these former sports icons leverage their influence to communicate with a broader audience.
This digital exchange highlights not only the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours but also the growing role of social media in shaping public sentiment and discourse.
The most heated clash ignited when former Pakistan star Shahid Afridi criticized the Indian Army, prompting a response from India’s former opener, Shikhar Dhawan, turning the virtual arena into a spectacle of patriotism and provocation.
“Even if a cracker bursts in India, they blame it on Pakistan. You have an 8 lakh-strong army in Kashmir, yet this happened. This means you are useless, not being able to provide security to people,” Afridi said.
Reacting to Afridi’s comments, former Indian batter Dhawan reminding Afridi of the Kargil war and asked him to focus on his country’s progress.
Afridi hit back later by referring to Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan in 2019.
“Chouro jeet haar ko, aao tumhey chae pilata hun Shikhar (Forget about winning and losing, come I’ll serve you tea, Shikhar),” Afridi wrote in reply to Dhawan’s post with a picture of him wearing a camouflage shirt.
Chouro jeet haar ko , aao tumhey chae pilata hun Shikhar . #FantasticTea https://t.co/ilEOepsVm0 pic.twitter.com/T45O8o2XUR
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) April 29, 2025
Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan has also been quite active on the social media platform X, trying to provoke Indian fans.
“Padosioo, cricket ki tarah yeh bhi hybrid model hoga? (Neighbours, will this happen also in hybrid model like cricket?) 🤔 #FantasticTea #PakistanZindabad,” he wrote in a post talking about the possibility of a war between India and Pakistan.
Padosioo, cricket ki tarah yeh bhi hybrid model hoga? 🤔#FantasticTea#PakistanZindabad
— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) April 29, 2025
Padosioo, cricket ki tarah yeh bhi hybrid model hoga? 🤔#FantasticTea#PakistanZindabad
— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) April 29, 2025
A video of former Pakistan wicket-keeper Moin Khan is also doing the rounds on social media, where he can be seen warning India that any action will lead to the loss of more lives.
“I want to send a loud and clear message to all those forces spreading false propaganda against Pakistan in India. Pakistan never attacks the unarmed. India has always blamed Pakistan for its false flag operations. When it comes to national integrity, the nation of Pakistan always stands with its army,” Khan said.
Moin Khan shares a loud and clear message to India.#Cricket | #Pakistan | #MoinKhan | #Lahore | #India pic.twitter.com/omd6TZCQkW
— Khel Shel (@khelshel) April 28, 2025
“And under the leadership of General Asim Munir, we are all one and are in a position to give a strong response. So it’s a request to you all to not indulge in stupidity because we in Pakistan tend to become united when it comes to matters such as these. So it’s better to avoid things that could lead to the loss of lives.”
In the digital realm, tensions have already ignited. India has blocked several Pakistani social media accounts, including that of Pakistan’s Defence Minister, after he said the Pahalgam attack was an Indian false flag operation.
Meanwhile, the BCCI remains silent on cricketing ties, asserting there’s no urgency to act as India only faces Pakistan in ICC events, the next of which is months away.
In contrast, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has refused to send the national team to play against India, anywhere.
It is pertinent to mention, as cross-border tensions flare between India and Pakistan, the digital pulse of the region reveals a striking trend.
According to Google Trends, the phrase “India Pak War” has surged in search interest, particularly across South Asia and Gulf countries, where curiosity and concern are running high.
Leading the digital charge, Pakistan tops the chart with 100% search interest, followed closely by India at 47%.
In the Gulf, the trend resonates widely — 29% of internet users in the UAE, 19% in Qatar, 14% in Oman, 12% in Kuwait, and 4% in Saudi Arabia have all been actively searching the term.
The wave of online attention also spans Nepal and Bangladesh (13%), Sri Lanka and Singapore (12%), reflecting how deeply the conflict echoes across borders.
