Gautam Gambhir slams Kirti Azad after T20 World Cup remark: Degrading your own players

India coach Gautam Gambhir slammed Kirti Azad after the former cricketer slammed the team for their visit to the temple after the T20 World Cup win. Azad slammed Gambhir, ICC chairman Jay Shah and Suryakumar for visiting the Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad right after India defeated New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026.

The 1983 World Cup winner raised concerns over the trophy being taken only to a temple, asking why it wasn’t brought to other places of worship as well, and termed the move discriminatory. Gambhir, while talking to ANI, said it was not a remark that even needed answering and defended the decision from the team. The Indian coach said that it just dilutes the achievement of his side and it wasn't fair on the players.

"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 while talking to ANI.

'LITERALLY DEGRADING INDIAN TEAM'

Gambhir said that the Indian team deserved to be celebrated in their own way without any religious or political interference. The Indian coach further said that Azad's comments were basically degrading the Indian team and their achievements.

"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," said Gambhir.

The remarks from the Indian coach came right after Harbhajan Singh also slammed Azad for his remark.

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Published By:

alan john

Published On:

Mar 11, 2026 09:56 IST

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