PatnaFollowing India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, captain Suryakumar Yadav went to a nearby Hanuman Mandir to pray with head coach and ICC chief Jay Shah. Kirti Azad, the 1983 World Cup-winning goalkeeper for India, took notice of that act and criticized the decision, saying that the World Cup belongs to all religions and that it wasn't ideal to take it only to a mandir.
Azad tweeted, "Why NOT a Mosque? Why NOT a Church? Why NOT a Gurudwara?..." The trophy belongs to 1.4 billion Indians of all faiths, not just one religion.
The former Indian cricket player also highlighted the varied composition of Kapil Dev's 1983 World Cup-winning team. "We had Hindu Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians on the team when we won the World Cup under Kapil Dev in 1983."
He also emphasized that the national side does not represent specific people, but rather the entire nation. "This team represents India, not the family of Jay Shah or Surya Kumar Yadav."
When Ishan Kishan arrived in his hometown of Patna, he was asked about the criticism that former cricket player Azad had voiced. The child, however, seemed agitated and refused to discuss the subject, advising them to concentrate on winning the competition.
"Kirti Azad ne kya bola ispe mein kya bolun, kitna accha sawal aaplog kijiyega, kitna accha World Cup jitte hai? It's amazing to win the World Cup. You folks ought to ask insightful questions. Regarding Kirti Azad's remarks, what can I say? To make it fun, please ask some insightful questions. Kishan responded to the reporters.
Additionally, Azad pointed out that players like Sanju Samson and Mohammed Siraj had never brought the trophy to their respective houses of worship.
Kishan's World Cup experienceApart from the controversy, Kishan felt personally atoned for his actions during the tournament. Since Samson was settled, he wasn't initially scheduled for the World Cup. However, the team management considered re-signing him following a fantastic season with Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The 27-year-old played a significant part in India's campaign and ultimately dominated the tournament with his performances. Kishan scored three half-centuries during the competition and finished with 317 runs at a strike rate above 190.
The match against New Zealand in the final itself became one-sided. With the help of attacking fifties from Abhishek Sharma, Samson, and Kishan, India scored 255 runs in the first innings. After a difficult chase, New Zealand was bowled out for 159.
See Also: