The row centers on Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah taking the newly won T20 World Cup trophy to the Hanuman Temple in Ahmedabad on Sunday night following their historic victory over New Zealand.

1. Kishan's Response: “Ask About the Runs”

Landing at the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in his hometown of Patna, Kishan was met with a barrage of questions regarding Azad's “secularism” critique.

• The Deflection: “Well, we have won so well in the World Cup. What do I say now on what Kirti Azad said?” Kishan remarked, visibly annoyed by the shift in focus from the team’s achievement.
• The “Bekaar” Remark: When pressed further, Kishan smiled but didn’t mince words, telling a reporter in Hindi: “You asked a useless (‘bekaar’) question. You should ask about how much fun we had; how we made runs.”
• Tournament Form: Kishan's frustration comes on the heels of a stellar World Cup campaign where he scored 317 runs in nine matches, including a crucial half-century in the final.

2. The Controversy: Kirti Azad's “Victory Lap” Critique

Kirti Azad, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad and current Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, sparked the debate with a viral post on X (formerly Twitter).

• The Secular Argument: Azad argued that the trophy belongs to “1.4 billion Indians of every faith” and should not be used for “one religion’s victory lap.”
• The Comparison: He questioned why the trophy wasn’t taken to a Mosque, Church, or Gurudwara, noting that in 1983, the team represented India's multi-faith fabric.
• Targeting Leadership: Azad specifically called out Jay Shah and Suryakumar Yadav, stating, “This Team Represents INDIA - not Surya Kumar Yadav’s or Jay Shah’s Family.” He highlighted that non-Hindu players like Mohammad Siraj and Sanju Samson (the Player of the Tournament) did not parade the trophy at their respective religious sites.

3. Political Undertones in West Bengal

The timing of the critique is significant as West Bengal prepares for high-stakes assembly elections in May 2026.

• TMC vs. BJP: Azad's party, the TMC, has been in a “gloves-off” battle with the BJP. The TMC often accuses the BJP of using Hindutva-centered strategies to communalize sports and politics, while the BJP counters with allegations of “minority appeasement.”
• The Ahmedabad Context: The visit to the Hanuman Temple (located adjacent to the Narendra Modi Stadium) was viewed by supporters as a personal act of gratitude by the captain and coach, but critics like Azad see it as an institutional endorsement of one faith.