India’s T20 World Cup celebrations have unexpectedly triggered a heated debate within the cricket fraternity after comments by former India cricketer Kirti Azad about the team’s temple visit set off a wave of reactions from current and former players.
The remarks followed celebrations after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, when Captain Suryakumar Yadav, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and ICC Chairman Jay Shah visited a Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad with the trophy shortly after the final. Images and videos of the visit circulated widely on social media in the aftermath of the victory.
Azad later posted a series of remarks on social media criticising the Indian team’s decision to take the trophy to the temple following their title-winning campaign. “SHAME ON TEAM INDIA!” Kirti Azad wrote on X, launching a post that quickly spread widely online and drew responses from multiple figures in Indian cricket.
SHAME ON TEAM INDIA! 😡
When we won the World Cup under Kapil Dev in 1983, we had Hindu Muslim Sikh and Christian in the team.
We brought the trophy to our religious birth place our motherland India Bharat Hindustan
Why The Hell Is The Indian Cricket Trophy is being Dragged.…
— Kirti Azad (@KirtiAzaad) March 9, 2026
Azad questions temple visit during trophy celebrations
In the same post, the 1983 World Cup winner Azad invoked the composition of India’s historic squad under Kapil Dev and wrote, “When we won the World Cup under Kapil Dev in 1983, we had Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian in the team.” He continued by reflecting on how that earlier triumph was celebrated, adding, “We brought the trophy to our religious birth place our motherland India Bharat Hindustan.”
Azad went on to question the symbolism of the recent temple visit, writing, “Why The Hell Is The Indian Cricket Trophy is being Dragged.” He further asked, “Why NOT a Mosque? Why NOT a Church? Why NOT a Gurudwara?”
Continuing his criticism of the celebration, Azad wrote, “This Team Represents INDIA — not Surya Kumar Yadav’s or Jay Shah’s Family!” He also remarked on how previous players handled celebrations, adding, “Siraj never paraded it at a Mosque. Sanju never took it to a Church.” In another part of the post he argued that the victory belonged to the entire country, writing, “The Trophy Belongs to 1.4 BILLION Indians of EVERY Faith — NOT ONE RELIGION’S VICTORY LAP!”
Gambhir responds to controversy surrounding the remarks
India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir later addressed the issue during an interaction with ANI, criticising the focus on the temple visit and defending the players’ achievements. “What do I even say about it. I think it’s not even worth answering that question. It’s a big moment for the entire country. I think it is important that we celebrate the World Cup. That’s why I say that there’s no point picking up certain statements because they only dilute your achievements. If you want to dilute the efforts of those 15 players, then anyone will wake up and say anything tomorrow,” Gautam Gambhir told ANI in a podcast.
He continued by highlighting the pressure faced by the team during the tournament and said, “It is not fair on the boys. Imagine what the boys have gone through. The amount of pressure they have gone through. After losing the game against South Africa, the kind of pressure the boys are under, and if you’re passing such a statement, you are degrading your own player and your own team. It should not be done.”
Harbhajan Singh criticises politicisation of the celebration
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh also voiced strong disagreement with Azad’s remarks while speaking to ANI. “Kirti himself is a former cricketer. So, I didn’t expect him to say such a thing. Perhaps, he’s prioritising politics more and has forgotten he’s a sportsman,” Harbhajan Singh said.
He further defended the players’ right to celebrate their victory according to their beliefs, saying, “It is absurd what he (Kirti Azad) is trying to do by playing politics with this. The Indian team can take the trophy to a temple, a mosque, a church, wherever they want to. If they have asked something from their God and have revisited their faith after their wish was fulfilled, what’s the problem in that?”
Harbhajan added that the focus should remain on celebrating the achievement rather than creating divisions, stating, “It is unfortunate to hear these things from fellow cricketers. Maybe they are preferring politics over the sport. It is even more unfortunate that he is a sportsman. The country has won a World Cup. Be happy, celebrate, but you are busy doing politics. We say in our faith that all religions are the same. There may be different Gods, but the path is the same. If they went to a temple, a mosque or a church, it is the same. It is their faith and you should not be questioning it.”
Following the title win, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a reward of INR 131 crore (approx. US$ 14 million) for the players and support staff in recognition of the team’s successful campaign and title defence.
During the same interaction, Harbhajan also commented on the financial reward announced for the Indian team, saying, “I was expecting more, because when such a big task is undertaken, the reward should be even greater. But congratulations to the team for their dominance in the World Cup, and for showing everyone how powerful India is.”
Azad defends remarks amid criticism
As criticism mounted, Azad defended his comments during an interaction with ANI, reiterating that the issue should be viewed through the lens of inclusivity. “Yes, definitely, players should not be degraded. Players shouldn’t degrade their situation either. Ours is a democratic country in which people of all religions live, and everyone should be respected,” Kirti Azad said.
He also elaborated on his stance while speaking to reporters, saying, “140 crore people were excited when Team India, which includes people from all religions, won. A sportsperson or sports does not belong to any religion or caste but only to the sport. As a sportsperson, I say Team India made India victorious. Team India won, and this is a matter of pride for the people of India.”
Ishan Kishan dismisses question about controversy
India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was also asked about Azad’s comments after arriving in Patna following the team’s World Cup triumph. The player indicated he preferred that attention remain on the victory rather than the controversy. “Itna acha World Cup jeete hain, kitna acha saawal aap log kijye ga, yeh Kirti Azad kya bole isme main kya bolu,” Ishan Kishan told reporters upon arrival in Patna. (We have won such a great World Cup. You should ask better questions. Why should I speak about what Kirti Azad said?)
Encouraging journalists to focus on the team’s achievement instead, he added, “Acha sawal kijye, kaisa maja aaya.” (Ask a good question, like how much we enjoyed it.) When another reporter reframed the question, Kishan responded, “Yeh acha question hua, bekar question puch liye aap.” (Now that’s a good question — earlier you asked a pointless one.)
Asked about his outlook going forward, the batter concluded, “Just keep scoring runs, keep playing, and continue winning.”
