10 March,2026 07:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Harbhajan Singh, Kirti Azad (Pic: File Pic)
Team India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Following the triumph, Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Jay Shah went to a Hanuman temple near the stadium to seek blessings and also carried the trophy along with them.
Later, speaking to the reporters on Tuesday, Kirti questioned the move, saying that a sportsperson or sport does not belong to any religion or caste.
"140 crore people were excited when Team India, which includes people from all religions, won. A sportsperson or sports does not belong to any religion or caste but only to the sport. As a sportsperson, I say Team India made India victorious. Team India won, and this is a matter of pride for the people of India," he had said.
Reacting to Azad's criticism, former Team India cricketer Harbhajan Singh said that the 67-year-old former cricketer forgot that he is a sportsman.
"It's absurd that someone is politicising the players taking the trophy to a temple. Kirti himself is a former cricketer, so I didn't expect him to say such a thing. Perhaps he's prioritising politics more and has forgotten he's a sportsman," he said.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also announced Rs 131 crore as a reward for the team following their triumph in the global showpiece.
Speaking about the reward, Harbhajan said that he expected the amount to be more and said that the players have shown how powerful India is.
"I was expecting more, because when such a big task is undertaken, the reward should be even greater. But congratulations to the team for their dominance in the World Cup, and for showing everyone how powerful India is," said the Punjab-born cricketer.
Batting first in the final, the "Men in Blue" posted a mammoth total of 256 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan smashed half-centuries. Facing 46 balls, Samson scored 89 runs with the help of five boundaries and eight maximums. Abhishek also garnered 52 runs in 21 balls, including six boundaries and three maximums. Ishan smashed 54 runs off 25 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and four maximums. Later, burly all-rounder Shivam Dube also played a fiery cameo of an unbeaten 26 runs in just eight deliveries.
Chasing a target of 256, New Zealand was bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Team India's lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of four for 15 in four overs. Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Abhishek also chipped in with one wicket each.
(With ANI Inputs)
