Gautam Gambhir Responds to Kirti Azad's Criticism of Team India's Hanuman Temple Visit in Ahmedabad

Gautam Gambhir has strongly defended the Indian cricket team’s visit to a temple after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, responding to criticism from former cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad. The controversy erupted after members of the victorious Indian squad visited a Hanuman Temple Ahmedabad with the trophy shortly after defeating the New Zealand national cricket team in the final.

The Indian team, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav and guided by head coach Gautam Gambhir, travelled to the temple in Ahmedabad to offer prayers after lifting the trophy. Images and videos of the visit quickly circulated online, drawing both praise and criticism. For many fans, the gesture was seen as a traditional way of expressing gratitude following a major sporting achievement.

However, Kirti Azad, who was part of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning squad and is currently associated with the All India Trinamool Congress, questioned the decision. Azad argued that if the team chose to visit a religious site with the trophy, it should also have included other places of worship to represent the country’s diverse faiths. His remarks sparked a debate on social media about religion and symbolism in sports celebrations.

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Responding to the criticism, Gambhir dismissed the remarks and said such statements only dilute the significance of the team’s achievement. He stated that the players had faced immense pressure throughout the tournament and deserved to celebrate their victory in the manner they felt appropriate. Gambhir also said that raising such issues takes attention away from the dedication and effort shown by the players during the competition.

The head coach further stressed that the victory was a proud moment for the entire nation and should be remembered for the team’s performance rather than the manner of celebration. He added that comments questioning the team’s actions effectively undermine the hard work of the 15 players who represented India on the global stage. With the title win marking India’s third triumph in the T20 World Cup, Gambhir said the focus should remain on celebrating the achievement of the players and the joy it brought to millions of fans across the country.

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