“Why NOT a Mosque? Why NOT a Church? Why NOT a Gurudwara? The Trophy Belongs to 1.4 BILLION Indians of EVERY Faith — NOT ONE RELIGION'S VICTORY LAP.”
The post triggered a storm, with many questioning the need for such a statement. Yesterday, as Ishan Kishan returned to his hometown, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter chose not to address the controversy and simply said, “Ask something else.” Even Harbhajan Singh, the former India two-time World Cup-winning spinner, did not take kindly to Azad’s take.
“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?” he said.
“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.”
Gautam Gambhir reacts strongly
Finally, Gambhir, India’s two-time ICC trophy-winning head coach, broke his silence and pummelled Azad for the remark, accusing him of ‘degrading’ and ‘diluting’ India’s win.
“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,” Gambhir told ANI in a podcast.
“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.”
As Gambhir pointed out, the Indian team showed real character after being hammered by South Africa in the Super Eights. Following a 76-run defeat that pushed their net run rate to -3.8, India had to win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to reach the semi-final. Not only did India achieve it, they did so in style. Zimbabwe were beaten handsomely by 76 runs, while the West Indies were outplayed by five wickets.
In the semi-final, India faced England and, despite Jacob Bethell’s fighting century, beat them for the second consecutive time in a T20 World Cup knockout match. The final, however, was where India saved their most dominant performance, dismantling New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times, defend the trophy, and do so on home soil.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has strongly criticized former cricketer and TMC MP Kirti Azad for comments regarding the Indian team’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory celebrations.
The controversy began after India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
The Controversy
Kirti Azad, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, sparked a debate on X (formerly Twitter) by questioning why the trophy was only taken to a temple.
"Why NOT a Mosque? Why NOT a Church? Why NOT a Gurudwara? The Trophy Belongs to 1.4 BILLION Indians of EVERY Faith — NOT ONE RELIGION'S VICTORY LAP."
— Kirti Azad on X
Gambhir’s Response
Breaking his silence in an interview with ANI on Wednesday, March 11, Gambhir described the remarks as "degrading" to the players' hard work and achievement.
"Not Worth Answering": Gambhir initially stated the question didn't even deserve a response, emphasizing that the focus should be on celebrating a historic national moment.
"Diluting Achievement": He argued that picking up such divisive statements only serves to "dilute" the efforts of the 15 players who handled immense pressure throughout the tournament.
"Degrading the Team": Gambhir was blunt, stating, "If you are giving such a statement, you're literally degrading your own players and your own team, which should not be done."
Wider Reactions
Harbhajan Singh: The former spinner also slammed Azad, accusing him of playing politics.
He stated that players have the right to visit any place of worship to fulfill a vow or show gratitude according to their faith. Ishan Kishan: When asked about the row upon returning to his hometown, the wicketkeeper-batter declined to comment, simply asking reporters to "ask better questions" and focus on the win.
Kirti Azad’s Rebuttal: Responding to Gambhir’s criticism on Wednesday, Azad maintained his stance, saying that while players shouldn't be degraded, they also "shouldn't degrade their situation" and must respect the country's democratic and multi-religious fabric.
India's victory in 2026 marks a record third T20 World Cup title and makes them the first team to successfully defend the trophy while winning it as the host nation.
Would you like more details on India's road to the final or the specific player statistics from the tournament?
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