Gautam Gambhir Celebrates T20 World Cup Victory with Prayers at Gurudwara
Gautam Gambhir's Spiritual Visit After Historic Win
On March 12, Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, paid a visit to Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi to offer his prayers following the team's remarkable triumph in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
The Indian team, known as the Men in Blue, made history by clinching their third T20 World Cup title, becoming the first team to defend the title successfully while also winning it on home soil. They achieved this feat with a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Gambhir's visit comes in response to criticism from former cricketer and TMC MP Kirti Azad, who expressed disapproval of the team's leadership for taking the T20 World Cup trophy to a temple after their victory.
In an interview addressing Azad's remarks, Gambhir stated, “It’s not worth responding to such comments. This is a significant moment for our nation. Celebrating a World Cup win is essential, and dismissing it only undermines the achievements of the players. Such statements degrade the efforts of the team and should not be made.”
After their victory, Gambhir, along with India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and ICC Chairman Jay Shah, visited a Hanuman temple near the stadium to seek blessings, bringing the trophy along.
Kirti Azad later questioned this gesture, emphasizing that sports transcend religion and caste. He remarked, “140 crore people celebrated Team India’s victory, which includes players from diverse backgrounds. Sports belong to everyone, and this win is a source of pride for all Indians.”
As head coach, Gambhir has now led India to victories in the Champions Trophy 2025, Asia Cup 2025, and the T20 World Cup 2026, in addition to his IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a mentor. His impressive list of achievements also includes winning the T20 World Cup, the 50-over World Cup, and the Asia Cup during his playing career.