India head coach Gautam Gambhir has strongly responded to remarks made by former cricketer Kirti Azad regarding the Indian team’s visit to a temple following their T20 World Cup 2026 victory. Gambhir dismissed the criticism, stating that such comments only undermine the monumental achievement of the players who brought glory to the nation.
After defeating New Zealand in the final of the tournament, several members of the Indian contingent, including Gambhir, ICC chairman Jay Shah, and captain Suryakumar Yadav, visited the Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad with the trophy. The visit, however, sparked debate after 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 turned into a divisive issue.
Kirti Azad questions temple visit after World Cup win
The controversy began when Azad, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, voiced his concerns over the symbolic act of visiting the temple immediately after the title triumph. According to him, such a gesture raised questions about inclusivity, as the trophy was not taken to other religious places as well.
Azad argued that a national achievement like a World Cup win represents every citizen of the country, regardless of faith, and therefore celebrations should reflect that broader sentiment. His remarks quickly triggered debate among fans and cricket followers across social media platforms.
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
Also WATCH: Ishan Kishan reacts after Kirti Azad questions Indian team’s temple visit following T20 World Cup 2026 triumph
Gautam Gambhir slams Azad for his remarks on Team India
Gambhir, however, did not hold back while addressing the comments. The Indian coach said the criticism was not even worth responding to and insisted that the focus should remain on celebrating the players’ efforts. According to Gambhir, raising such debates immediately after a major sporting triumph shifts attention away from the dedication and sacrifices made by the players throughout the tournament.
He emphasized that India’s victory was a proud moment for the entire country and should be celebrated without attaching unnecessary controversies to it. Gambhir also stressed that any statement that shifts the conversation away from the players’ achievements risks diminishing the value of what they accomplished on the global stage.
“It is not even worth answering this question. Answering that question, it is a big moment for the entire country. If you ask me, then it’s a huge moment for our whole country. I think it’s important that we celebrate the World Cup winner. That’s why I said certain statements; there is no point picking up certain statements, because these statements will only dilute your achievement. If you want to dilute the achievements of those 15 players and their efforts, then tomorrow anyone can give any statement, and we start taking it seriously, which isn’t fair to the boys,” Gambhir told ANI.
Gambhir further highlighted the immense pressure the team endured during the tournament. He pointed out that the players faced intense scrutiny throughout the competition, particularly after suffering a defeat earlier in the campaign.
Despite the challenges, the squad managed to regroup and produce a remarkable run that ultimately culminated in lifting the trophy. Gambhir argued that instead of celebrating this resilience, criticism like Azad’s ends up overshadowing the team’s hard work.
“Imagine that the boys have gone through so much — the amount of pressure they’ve been under after losing one match in South Africa, the kind of pressures the boys were under. Today, if you are giving such a statement, you’re literally degrading your own players and degrading your own team, which should not be done,” added Gambhir.
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