Lyricist Javed Akhtar celebrated Team India’s victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy match on Sunday.
India secured a six-wicket win, with Virat Kohli’s last-ball boundary bringing up his century and clinching the match.
Praising Kohli’s performance, Akhtar posted on X, “Virat Kohli, zindabad! We all are so, so proud of you!”
However, his post drew negative comments, questioning his patriotism.
One user’s taunt comparing Kohli to Pakistan’s Babar Azam prompted Akhtar to respond, calling the user “a lowly person” who could never understand patriotism.
One of the trolls on social media wrote: "Aj suraj kaha se nikla. Andar se dukh hoga apko to (where did the Sun rise from today? You must've been hurt from inside)."
The industry legend then wrote, "Son, when your grandfather was licking the boots of the British, I was fighting for our freedom in the jail and in Kala Pani. My veins carry the blood of patriots, while yours carry the blood of British servants. Don't forget this difference."
Coming into the match on the back of a topsy-turvy run that saw his place in the team being questioned, Kohli slammed his 51st ODI hundred as he decimated Pakistan in the Group A match of the Champions Trophy.
