Hardik Pandya in legal trouble: Complaint filed against all-rounder for ‘insulting’ Indian flag after T20 World Cup win

A police officer confirmed on Wednesday that advocate Wajid Khan had submitted the complaint application seeking appropriate action in the matter

Updated on: Mar 12, 2026, 09:34:13 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has landed in legal trouble after a Pune-based advocate filed a complaint with the police, alleging disrespect to the Indian national flag during the T20 World Cup victory celebrations in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

India's Hardik Pandya celebrates with his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, at Narendra Modi Stadium (PTI)

The complaint, submitted at the Shivaji Nagar police station in Pune, pertains to India's on-field celebrations at the Narendra Modi Stadium after the team lifted the T20 World Cup for a record third time.

A police officer confirmed on Wednesday that advocate Wajid Khan had submitted the complaint application seeking appropriate action in the matter, but did not elaborate further.

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According to the complaint, several videos of the Indian team’s post-match celebrations have gone viral on social media. In one such clip, Pandya is seen celebrating with the Indian Tricolour draped over his shoulders while dancing and running across the field.

The complaint also alleges that during the celebrations, Pandya was seen lying on the stage alongside his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma while the Tricolour remained draped over him, which the complainant claims amounts to disrespect towards the national flag.

"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," Khan told ANI.

"According to Section 2 of the 1971 National Flag Act, we should respect the dignity of the national flag. However, Hardik Pandya was so lost in the celebration of his victory that he was lying with his girlfriend while wearing the national flag. I believe it is an insult to the national flag."

Khan added that the police initially told him the incident took place in Ahmedabad, but he argued that the national flag represents the entire country and therefore the complaint could be filed in Pune as well.

"I have filed a complaint with the Shivaji Nagar police station. They have accepted my complaint and provided me with a copy. Let's see what happens next," he said.

The incident has triggered mixed reactions on social media. While many fans dismissed the issue as part of exuberant celebrations after a historic victory, some felt the national flag should have been treated with greater care during the festivities.

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final on Sunday to clinch their third T20 World Cup title. The victory made them the first team to win the tournament three times and the first to lift the trophy on home soil.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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