Fresh off India’s historic triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, recent World Cup winner Hardik Pandya has found himself in potential trouble after a complaint was filed against him over alleged disrespect to the national flag during the team’s celebrations at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The complaint was filed by Pune-based lawyer Wajed Khan Bidkar, who has sought appropriate action in the matter. Bidkar submitted a written application at the Shivajinagar Police Station requesting that authorities take action against the cricketer.
According to the complaint, several videos of the Indian team’s on-field celebrations after winning the tournament have gone viral on social media. In one such video, Pandya is seen celebrating while dancing and running on the field with the Tricolour draped over his shoulder.
A complaint has been lodged against Hardik Pandya at the Shivajinagar Police Station alleging disrespect to the national flag during celebrations after India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup victory at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Pune-based lawyer Wajed Khan Bidkar has sought… pic.twitter.com/iRXTP9nKOP
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 12, 2026
The complainant alleged that during the celebrations, Pandya was later seen lying on the stage with his girlfriend while the national flag was still draped over his shoulder, which he claimed amounted to disrespect to the Tricolour.
“You must have seen the T20 World Cup here. Hardik Pandya was dancing with his girlfriend in celebration of his victory. The national flag was tied to his back. According to Section 2 of the National Flag Act, 1971, we should respect the dignity of the national flag. However, Hardik Pandya was so lost in celebration that he was lying with his girlfriend while wearing the national flag. I believe it is an insult to the national flag,” Bidkar said.
Bidkar further stated that when he initially went to file the complaint, police informed him that the incident had occurred elsewhere. However, he argued that the national flag represents the entire country and that the complaint could therefore be lodged at the Shivajinagar Police Station. The police subsequently accepted the complaint and provided him with a copy of the submission.
Meanwhile, the India national cricket team produced a dominant performance in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, defeating the New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs to successfully defend their title. The victory also made India the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, the first to claim back-to-back titles after their 2024 triumph, and the first side to lift the trophy three times (2007, 2024, and 2026).