Ahmedabad: On the eve of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, several members of the Indian cricket team visited a temple in Ahmedabad, continuing a series of spiritual visits that have drawn attention throughout the tournament.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya were among those who visited the Hanuman Temple to offer prayers a day before the high-stakes final. The visit was seen as part of the team’s routine of seeking blessings before key matches during the tournament.
Throughout the World Cup, several players and coaching staff members have made similar visits at different match venues across the country. Before India’s semifinal clash against England in Mumbai on March 5, Gambhir, Suryakumar, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma visited the renowned Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple to seek blessings.
Similarly, ahead of their Super Eight match against the West Indies on March 1, members of the squad including Gambhir, Suryakumar, Axar and Abhishek paid a visit to the historic Kalighat Kali Temple.
In another instance earlier in the tournament, Abhishek Sharma and Axar Patel travelled to the Arulmigu Marundeeswarar Temple in Chennai before India’s Super Eight fixture against Zimbabwe on February 25.
While Indian players have occasionally visited places of worship during major tournaments in the past, the consistent pattern of temple visits throughout this World Cup has caught the attention of fans and observers. Many supporters on social media have described the gestures as a reflection of the players’ faith and a way to stay mentally grounded during the intense competition.
With the final approaching, fans are now eagerly waiting to see if the team’s preparation — both on the field and spiritually — will translate into success in the tournament’s biggest match.
