Writing review for India Today Shweta Keshri raised the concern of logic in the script, and wrote "For instance, a dramatic explosion at the nuclear plant leaves Dayal with just a few scratches. Security in a high-alert zone like Kahuta seems inconsistent. Dayal faced a lot of scrutiny while entering the territory, but how did he return and then come back again?" Shubhra Gupta for The Indian Express stated the series is a cringe. Reviewing for The Free Press Journal critic Troy Ribeiro wrote "While the series flirts with rewriting history (or veers into patriotic fan fiction), Salakaar leaves you wondering—does it stir pride or resurface old wounds? Either way, it’s audacious—and in the world of espionage, audacity counts." Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in wrote "Salakaar claims to be inspired by actual events. But the show is too dumbed-down, amateurish and contrived to be credible. The five-episode series doesn’t give any real sense of how espionage is conducted or how officials and leaders in both countries behave." Rahul Desai for The Hollywood Reporter India stated "sounds like a great show - a long-form Raazi perfaps." Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost praised performance of Mouni Roy and Mukesh Rishi. Nonika Singh for The Tribune wrote "Much of the India-Pakistan action does not rouse patriotic sentiments, nor is it adrenaline pumping." Chirag Sehgal for News18 stated "The show’s dialogues are another major letdown, often feeling forced and unnatural."
