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Former cricketer and now traditional Congress leader Kirti Azad has criticized taking the T20 World Cup trophy to the temple. Controversy has been raised over his statement.
Kirti Azad, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team, had said that there were Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians in the winning team but the trophy was taken to the temple. The Indian team should be ashamed of this.
After this statement of Azad, many former players and political leaders including champion team coach Gautam Gambhir, team member Ishan Kishan and others have reacted.
On Sunday, India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final of the T-20 World Cup.
After the T20 World Cup trophy, Indian team captain Suryakumar Yadav, coach Gautam Gambhir and Asian legend Jay Shah were in a Hanuman temple of fever. Kirti Azad had commented on this.
He shared a post on He wrote, “Shame on Team India. We won the World Cup in 1983 in the tradition of Kapil Dev, our team had Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. We brought the trophy religiously to our birthplace, our home India Hindustan. Why are we going to get the last Indian cricket trophy?”
He further wrote, “Why not a mosque? Why not a church? Why not a mosque? This is representative of Team India – not Suryakumar Yadav or Jay Shah’s family! Siraj never painted it in a mosque. Sanju never painted it in a church. This trophy belongs to 140 crore Indians of every religion. This is not a celebration of the victory of any one religion!”
What did Gautam Gambhir say?
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Gautam Sirius, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has based the statement of Kirti Azad on this.
In a statement, Gautam Gambhir said, “See what I have to say at this time. This is a big moment for the entire country. Want to waste their efforts, then tomorrow anyone will make any statement and we will start taking it from the nominee, which is not good for friends.”
Gautam Gambhir said that the players were drunk after the match against South Africa and then he became the champion, such statements will spoil his work.
He said, “Imagine how much the guys must have gone through. They would be cut after losing a match against South Africa. Today, if you are making such a statement, you are letting down your own player and your own team, which should not be done.”
What did Ishan Kishan say in Azad’s comment?
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PatnaUttar Pradesh Ishaan Kishan Talked to the media at the airport. During this, he was questioned on Kirti Azad’s comment, on which he said, “Winning such a good World Cup. You guys ask good questions. What should I say to this Kirti Azad? What should I say on this? Ask some good questions.”
Congress MP Tariq Baqi In his reaction, he said, “Kirti Azad is absolutely right. I completely agree with whatever he has said. It is our tradition here not to take the trophy to the temple or mosque or any other place. This is the beginning of a wrong tradition.”
Mahant of Hanuman temple in Hanuman Ishwardas Maharaj He said, “I want it to be related to our faith, devotion and philosophy. But what it is not, there are questions on it.”
Minister Giriraj Singh said, “I don’t know who did this, but the Sanatanis of India have traveled to the Central. India is not identified with Christians and dolls.”
Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hegde In his reaction, he said, “It is not right to link it with religion. The slogan of the Indian team is that they can take the trophy wherever they want. It is not right for them to take permission from Kirti Azad. Trying to link Kirti Azad with such religion is not right.”
Former Indian spin expert and leader of the Communist Party of India’s opposition to the Aam Aadmi Party said that such a question should not be raised on the shrine of the Indian captain and coach and this is his belief.
Harbhajan said“Don’t listen to what they say. Watch sports politics and other things. Whatever your faith, go to temple, gurudwara or go anywhere. If he goes anywhere, it is his choice.
Who is Kirti Azad?
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According to ESPN Cricinfo, right-handed batsman and off-break star Kirti Azad has played 7 Test matches for India, in which he has scored 135 runs.
Azad made his Test debut in 1981 against New Zealand in Wellington.
Talking about reliable matches, he played his first match for Team India against Australia on 6 December 1980.
He represented India in 25 balls and scored 269 runs. His highest score in France was 39 runs (not out).
Kirti Azad did not get much recognition at the international level, he was a pillar of Delhi cricket from 1980 to mid-1990.
It was under his leadership that Delhi won the Ranji Trophy in 1991-92 after a gap of 16 years.
It is also a coincidence that on the five occasions on which Delhi became Ranji champion, Kirti is the only player to challenge.
Kirti Azad was also the national selector for North Zone between 2002 and 2006.
This was the period when cricketers like MS Dhoni, Particle Patel, L Balaji, Aakash Chopra, Irfan Patlan, Gautam Gambhir and Sreesanth made their debut.
Apart from this, Kirti Azad has also been critical of the Indian Premier League.
He called it a tournament promoting match fixing. In the consultation related to IPL, he had also said that he is feeling angry and ashamed because of being associated with the stars.
After taking cricket syllabus, Kirti Azad came into politics.
Published by Tomorrow’s Interview Newsroom for the BBC.