Harbhajan Singh gave Kirti Azad a lesson in harmony after the 1983 World Cup winner went viral on the internet for his question as to why the Indian cricket team visits a temple every time after winning the trophy. Azad asked why the team, which includes players of different faiths, could not visit a mosque, a church and a gurudwara instead.
In his now-viral post on X, Azad slammed the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) for allegedly dragging the Indian team into a religious debate where the country’s dominant religion was highlighted. Azad said the trophy belonged to 1.4 billion people and not just one religion that won the round.
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Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who won the ODI World Cup with India in 2011, reacted to Azad’s comments and gave him a lesson in harmony. Harbhajan eloquently said that a temple, a mosque, a church and a gurudwara are the same and that it is shameful to question a player or a board member for practicing his faith.
“It’s absurd what (Kirti Azad) is trying to do by playing politics with this. The Indian team can take the trophy to a temple, mosque, church, wherever they want. If they asked their God for something and then reconsidered their faith after their wish was granted, what’s the problem?” said Harbhajan Singh.
“It is unfortunate to hear these things from fellow cricketers. Maybe they prefer politics to sports. It is even more unfortunate that he is a sportsman. The country has won the World Cup. Be happy, celebrate, but you are busy with politics. In our faith, we say that all religions are the same. They may be different Gods, but the path is the same. If they went to their church, it is the same temple or temple. You should not question it,” he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | Former Indian cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, as BCCI announces Rs 131 crore reward for Team India for winning the ICC T20 World Cup, says, “I expected more because when they take on such a big task, the reward should be even bigger. pic.twitter.com/xOxejmhZEG— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2026
WHAT EXACTLY DID KIRTI AAZAD SAY?
In a statement, Kirti Azad criticized the Indian team for taking the World Cup trophy to a temple and claimed that the team represents people of all religions in India. It said the trophy belongs to all 1.4 billion Indians and questioned why it was not taken to places of worship of other faiths such as mosques, churches or gurudwaras.
The post also referred to the 1983 World Cup team as an example of religious diversity in Indian cricket and argued that the celebrations should reflect this inclusivity.
KISHAN POSTPONEES THE QUESTION
Earlier, Ishan Kishan calmly deflected a question about the controversy surrounding former cricketer Kirti Azad after arriving in Patna following India’s T20 World Cup triumph. The wicket batter landed at the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport on Tuesday as part of the celebrations following India’s winning campaign.
During a media interaction, a journalist asked Kishan about Azad’s remarks regarding the decision to take the T20 World Cup trophy to the temple after the victory. Azad’s comments sparked debate on social media and among fans.
However, Kishan decided not to join the dispute. Instead, he responded calmly, shifting the focus back to the team’s historic success in the tournament. The left-handed batsman politely invited reporters to ask questions about the World Cup and the team’s journey instead of the ongoing debate.
“I just won such a wonderful World Cup. Please ask better questions. What can I say about what Kirti Azad said? Please ask some good questions. Tell me how it felt and how fun it was,” Kishan said.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
10 March 2026 19:13 IST
