Team India visits Hanuman Tekri after T20 WC victory:Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya sign young fan sketches at the temple

On 8 March, the T20 final between India and New Zealand was played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Team India secured a memorable victory. Before the high-stakes match, members of the Indian team visited the Hanuman Tekri Dada temple, located near the Motera stadium, to seek blessings. After lifting the trophy, they returned to the temple once again to offer their respects. Divya Bhaskar spoke with Maharaj Ishwardas of the Hanuman Tekri Dada temple, who described what happened before and after players such as Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Gautam Gambhir visited the shrine ahead of the final. The story also includes a touching moment involving a young fan whose faith, she believes, was rewarded. A century-old temple and a special visit Maharaj Ishwardas explained that he has been serving at the temple since 2002. According to him, the temple itself is nearly 100 years old. Over the decades, only three priests had served here before him, making him the fourth caretaker of the shrine. He recalled that before the final match on 8 March, members of Team India came to the temple for darshan to seek blessings from Hanuman Tekri Dada. ‘At that time, Dada blessed them,’ he said. Players took blessings before the match Ishwardas further stated that when Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Gautam Gambhir visited the temple, they bowed their heads at the deity’s feet and received blessings before leaving. The temple authorities also performed special puja and archana on behalf of the team. After India’s victory in the final, Captain Suryakumar Yadav and other members of the team returned to the temple again, this time carrying the trophy with them to offer thanks. Jay Shah’s regular visits When the team arrived for darshan after the victory, Jay Shah also accompanied them to the temple. Maharaj Ishwardas noted that whenever Shah visits Ahmedabad, he makes it a point to come to Hanuman Tekri Dada’s temple. ‘He visits three to four times a month whenever he is in the city,’ Ishwardas said, adding that many devotees have deep faith in the temple and come here to fulfil their vows and wishes. A young fan’s wish comes true Among the devotees present that day was 15-year-old Pari Patel, who had hoped to meet her favourite cricketers, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. She had drawn sketches of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya and initially tried to meet the players at Narendra Modi Stadium. However, due to tight security arrangements, she was unable to get close to them. Disappointed but hopeful, Pari went to the Hanuman Tekri temple near the stadium to show her sketches to the deity and prayed, asking for the chance to meet Hardik Pandya and Team India. A remarkable moment at the temple What happened next felt almost miraculous to her. While Pari was standing inside the temple holding three sketches of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson, the players themselves arrived there for darshan. Seeing the sketches in her hands, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya were delighted. They met the young fan and even signed their autographs on the sketches she had drawn. Pari shares her experience The following day, Pari returned to the temple again with the sketches. Speaking to Divya Bhaskar, she said she was extremely happy with the experience. ‘I am currently studying in Class 11 Commerce. I never imagined I would get their autographs,’ she said. ‘I tried a lot to meet the players at the stadium, but security was very strict. When we came to the temple for darshan, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav arrived almost immediately.’ She added that four police personnel present there helped her, something she said she would never forget. Pari revealed that she had drawn the portraits overnight between 11:30 pm and 5 am. Growing love for cricket Pari said she had created portraits of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson, adding that Hardik Pandya is her favourite player. ‘I was not very interested in cricket earlier, but now my interest has grown a lot,’ she said. The temple priest also blessed her, wishing that all her aspirations would come true. Devotees believe blessings helped Team India Another devotee, Yukti Chavda, who had come for darshan, said she had been visiting the temple for the past 10 years. ‘This temple has been here since my mother’s generation, so people have strong faith in it,’ she said. ‘When Team India came here before the match, I felt certain they would win. If they sought blessings here, then God’s grace would surely be with them.’