NEW DELHI — A fresh controversy has emerged following India’s victory in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, after former cricketer and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Kirti Azad criticized members of the Indian team leadership for parading the World Cup trophy to a Hindu temple in Ahmedabad.
Azad’s remarks targeted India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Jay Shah. The controversy quickly sparked debate on the relationship between sports, religion, and national representation.
Azad Questions Temple Visit with Trophy
Azad argued that the World Cup trophy represents the achievement of the entire nation and should not be associated with a single religion. His criticism came after the trophy was reportedly taken to a Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad following India’s triumph.
Azad emphasized that cricket victories belong to all Indians, regardless of religion or caste.
“The trophy belongs to 1.4 billion Indians… not one religion’s victory lap.”
He also argued that sports should remain inclusive and not be linked to religious symbolism.
“Any sport or sportsperson does not belong to a particular religion or caste.”
Comparison with India’s 1983 World Cup Team
While expressing his concerns, Azad referenced the historic victory of the Indian team in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. According to him, the players at that time dedicated the victory to the nation rather than presenting it at a specific religious place.
Azad said the trophy should ideally represent the unity of the country. He suggested that if it were to be taken to religious places, it should represent all faiths in India rather than one.
Ishan Kishan Dismisses the Controversy
India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who played an important role in the tournament, dismissed Azad’s comments when asked by reporters.
Kishan called the controversy unnecessary and urged the media to focus on the team’s achievement instead of what he described as irrelevant debates.
“What Kirti Azad says does not matter.”
He also said the discussion should center on the joy of winning the tournament.
“This is a useless question… Ask a better question, like how much fun it was to win.”
India’s Dominant Victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup Final
While the off-field debate continues, India’s performance on the field was nothing short of historic. India secured the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding performance in the final. The match was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where India defeated New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs. Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav and the coaching leadership of Gautam Gambhir, the Indian team delivered a strong all-round performance.
Sanju Samson was the undisputed star of the final, smashing a historic 89 runs off just 46 balls—the highest individual score ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final. Samson’s “triple treat” of consecutive half-centuries in the knockout stages earned him the Player of the Tournament award, cementing his legacy in Indian cricket history.
Complementing Samson’s brilliance was Ishan Kishan, who made a triumphant return to the squad for this tournament. Kishan played a crucial role in the final with a blistering 54 off 25 balls, featuring four boundaries and four massive sixes. Together, they helped propel India to a record-breaking total of 255/5, the highest ever in a tournament decider.
