In an era when headlines often prioritise controversy over credibility, 1983 World Cup hero Balwinder Singh Sandhu has issued a strong reminder, “Sports itself is a religion; stop dragging faith into it for TRPs and cheap publicity.”
Over the past few days, television debates and social media threads have erupted with claims that religion plays a role in Indian team selections. The noise intensified after Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed questioned India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir over the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan and even Mohammad Shami, despite their impressive domestic records.
What began as a stray remark quickly became primetime fodder. News anchors ran emotional debates, hashtags trended, and panelists lined up to take sides, all in the name of sensationalism. For many former players who have witnessed the game evolve over decades, such discussions are not just unnecessary but deeply damaging to the spirit of Indian sport.
Sandhu, known for his sharp cricketing mind and straightforward opinions, dismissed the controversy as nothing more than “a desperate attempt to stay in the news.”
“This is all for some cheap publicity,” he told News Arena India on Wednesday. “Sports itself is a religion for every player. Please don’t bring actual religion into sports. The media today is hungry for TRPs and will go to any extent to stir emotions. Sadly, those who have nothing else to contribute are joining in for a few minutes of fame.”
Also read: Cong spokesperson claims Sarfaraz Khan left out due to “surname”, takes swipe at Gautam Gambhir
Recalling his own playing days, Sandhu cited an example that drives home his point. “In 1984, just after Mrs Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mohinder Amarnath, and I, all Sikhs, were dropped from the team. Did anyone say it was because of religion back then? No. We accepted it as part of the game, worked harder, and earned our places again. That’s how sport should be, based on performance, not propaganda.”
Taking on those trying to give the BCCI or team management a communal colour, Sandhu added, “If there was even a hint of bias, would Ajit Agarkar—the BCCI chief selector, married to Fatima Ghadially, allow it? These allegations make no sense. Selections are based on form and fitness, not faith.”
He urged both the media and the public to exercise restraint and responsibility. “Cricket unites a country of a billion people. It’s one of the few things that makes us forget caste, creed, and religion. Let’s not poison it for a few headlines or social media clicks,” he said.
Sandhu’s message is clear: the obsession with sensationalism is harming the purity of sport. “It’s very sad,” he concluded. “People who are out of the limelight try to use religion as a shortcut to get back into relevance. And the media, hungry for TRPs, happily gives them the stage. Sports should remain above such pettiness. Let players play and let performance speak.”
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