Ambati Rayudu, a former Indian cricketer, has come under fire on social media following his tweet on X (previously Twitter) during the rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces' Operation Sindoor.

On Thursday night, Pakistan initiated a missile strike targeting several locations in India, including Poonch, Jaisalmer, Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia. The Indian defense forces successfully intercepted most of the missiles, resulting in minimal damage and no reported casualties. Explosions were noted in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, and Jalandhar, leading to precautionary blackouts in Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, Amritsar, and Jalandhar due to fears of escalating conflict.

In light of these tensions, Rayudu tweeted a message cautioning against the cycle of revenge, stating, "An eye for an eye makes the world blind."

An eye for an eye makes the world blind..🙏🙏🙏

This tweet sparked outrage among netizens, many of whom labeled him a 'traitor' for seemingly undermining the valor of the Indian Armed Forces during this critical time. Some even called for his removal from the commentary panel for IPL 2025.

The backlash was swift, with users expressing their discontent:

Pathetic tweet, Ambati.

The other option here is losing both our eyes. Only you can support it so that you can't see someone else going to the world cup instead of you.

Have some shame, even CSK fans won't defend you.

I used to have a bit of sympathy for you, considering how you didn't get the chances you deserved, but today you’ve made sure that it's gone.

Please join the Pakistan team and you will have a wonderful future!

Seriously Ambati. This is not acceptable at all.

TMC TRAITOR

traitor ex-Indian cricketer @RayuduAmbati

chutiya jaisa tweet. @IPL @BCCI remove such people from commentary who cannot take their own countries stand.

Not taking an asshole’s opinion who hides behind "neutrality" while the nation is bleeding from constant attacks.

In response to the backlash, Rayudu issued a clarification tweet, asserting that his original message was intended to promote peace and not to disrespect the Indian Armed Forces.

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Let’s remember — this isn’t a call for weakness, but a reminder of wisdom. Justice must stand firm, but never lose sight of humanity. We can love our nation fiercely and still hold compassion in our hearts. Patriotism and peace can walk hand in hand," he elaborated.

In the meantime, reports indicate that Indian defense forces have captured two Pakistani fighter pilots in Jaisalmer and Akhnoor, and three Pakistani jets have been downed, including one near Lathi in Rajasthan's Pokhran area and another AWACS aircraft inside Pakistan's Punjab province.

In retaliation for the missile attacks, the Indian Armed Forces targeted key locations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. Following a significant explosion near his residence, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was reportedly evacuated. Additionally, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has been detained amid the escalating conflict, leading to increased political instability in Pakistan.

The Indian Defence Ministry released a statement detailing Pakistan's attempts to strike various military targets in Northern and Western India using drones and missiles, all of which were neutralized by India's Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The ministry confirmed that Indian forces targeted Air Defence systems in Pakistan in response.