India’s seven-run victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa had the country dancing with joy. The world champion’s trophy was finally ours after years of drought. However, the storm stirred by Mohammed Siraj’s celebratory post on X was a reminder—that cricket isn’t immune to communal hate.
Often hailed as India’s unofficial religion, the sport has always united the country. Whether a cricketer believes in Ram, Allah, Guru Nanak or Jesus, he is worshipped by every Indian fan. But this fandom has gone through an unfortunate change in the last decade. Like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and others, Siraj also posted a picture of the team lifting the trophy. While others received gratitude from fans, the right-arm fast bowler’s comment section was full of vitriol. Why? Because he thanked Allah for the victory.
Siraj’s caption, “Thank you almighty Allah”, didn’t sit well with some users. “It’s victory of Team India, not Allah….Why attaching everything with Islam,” said a user. Another wrote, “If Allah is Almighty then why did Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh not win? Instead of thanking the eleven players who won the match, are you thanking Allah?”
The backlash against Siraj’s post isn’t just unfair; it showcases a disturbing intolerance within the fanbase. His expression of gratitude is a personal act of faith and it does not detract from the team’s collective achievement. But when have the haters on the internet ever cared about logic or respect? This isn’t the first time they went after Siraj. In 2023, when the Indian team was playing a test series against Australia in Ahmedabad, the crowd chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at him and Mohammed Shami.
Religion has seldom entered the discussions of Indian cricket until now. It looks like things are changing — for the worse.
Also read: T20 WC win is a turning point for Indian cricket—now begins the end of Rohit-Kohli era
The spirit of cricket
The comments on Siraj’s post come days after the brutal killing of 23-year-old Salman Vohra, after a cricket match in Gujarat’s Chikhodra.
What began as a sports event, reportedly turned violent, fueled by communal tensions. Muslim players had been performing well in the tournament and it angered a section of the locals. Salman was mercilessly beaten to death, while the crowd cheered.
The fact that a young man lost his life simply for being present at a cricket match underscores the urgent need to address this toxic communal divide.
Cricket’s beauty lies in its ability to bring people together from different backgrounds to celebrate a shared passion.
Introducing religious elements is going to kill the game, leading to unnecessary controversies and distracting from what truly matters: the players, their performances and the thrill of competition.
The Indian cricket team’s magnificent win at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on 29 June was the result of each player’s efforts. It shouldn’t matter which god they thanked for it; they made us the world champion.
Views are personal.