India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir Has reacted strongly to the former cricketer’s comment Kirti Azad Regarding the visit of the Indian team to a temple after that t20 world cup 2026 Victory. Gambhir rejected the criticism, saying such comments only undermine the great achievement of the players who brought glory to the country.
after defeating new zealand Many members of the Indian team including ICC Chairman Gambhir were present in the final of the tournament. Jai Shahand captain Suryakumar YadavWent to Hanuman Temple in Ahmedabad with the trophy. However, the tour sparked controversy when Azad questioned the decision and suggested that taking the trophy to only one place of worship could appear discriminatory. Responding to the controversy, Gambhir made it clear that the team’s celebration should not be made a divisive issue.
Kirti Azad raised questions on going to temple after World Cup victory
The controversy began when Azad, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, expressed his concern over the symbolic act of visiting the temple so soon after the title win. According to him, such behavior raises questions on inclusivity, as the trophy was not even taken to other religious places.
Azad argued that a national achievement like a World Cup win represents every citizen of the country, regardless of faith, and so celebrations should reflect that broader sentiment. His comments immediately sparked debate among fans and cricket followers on social media platforms.
Team India should be ashamed! 😡
When we won the World Cup in 1983 under the leadership of Kapil Dev, we had Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians in our team.
We brought the trophy to our religious birthplace, our motherland India India Hindustan
After all, why is the Indian cricket trophy being pulled…
– Kirti Azad (@KirtiAzaad) 9 March 2026
Gautam Gambhir criticized Azad for his comments on Team India
However, Gambhir did not shy away from making serious comments. The Indian coach said the criticism was not even worth reacting to and stressed that the focus should remain on celebrating the efforts of the players. According to Gambhir, starting such a debate immediately after a big sporting victory diverts attention from the dedication and sacrifice made by the players throughout the tournament.
He stressed that India’s victory is a proud moment for the entire country and should be celebrated without adding unnecessary controversies. Gambhir also stressed that any statement that takes the conversation away from the achievements of the players risks undermining what they have achieved on the global stage.
“It’s not even worth answering that question. To answer that question, it’s a big moment for the entire country. If you ask me, it’s a big moment for our entire country. I think it’s important that we celebrate the World Cup winner. That’s why I said some statements; there is no point in raising some statements, because these statements will only dilute your achievement. If you want to undermine the achievements of those 15 players and their efforts, then tomorrow no one can make statements, and we start taking it seriously. It’s not fair to the boys,” Gambhir told ANI.
Gambhir also highlighted the immense pressure on the team during the tournament. He explained that the players faced intense scrutiny throughout the competition, especially after suffering defeats earlier in the campaign.
Despite the challenges, the team managed to regroup and put in remarkable performances, ultimately culminating in lifting the trophy. Gambhir argued that instead of celebrating this resilience, criticism like Azad’s belittles the team’s hard work.
“Imagine what the boys have gone through – the amount of pressure they were under after losing a match in South Africa, the kind of pressure the boys were under. Today, if you are making such a statement, you are really letting your players down and letting your team down, which should not be done.” added Gambhir.
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