itstargetnews
A new storm has hit the Indian national cricket team, this time with religion becoming an issue among the cricketers amid a war between the United States, Israel and Iran.
A post on social media revealed that things are not going well between Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, fast bowler Mohammad Siraj and ace Mohammad Shami.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s post sparks huge controversy
In fact, Yuzvendra Chahal’s simple social media post turned into a huge controversy as a fan claimed that Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami unfollowed the Indian spinner because of the post, which was related to the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran.
Your daily dose of cricket!
It all started when Yuzvendra Chahal shared a picture of a men’s T-shirt. Printed on it was the message: “Support the country you live in, or live in the country you support.”
🚨Mohammed Siraj and Md Shami unfollow Yuzi Chahal on Instagram 🚨 https://t.co/sJ6H4cEj0c pic.twitter.com/NKOaSlOoLV
– Courageous (@CourageousRo) March 2, 2026
Although he did not directly address the war or the death of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, many linked his posts to the current emotional situation related to Iran.
Fans divided over patriotic message
Some supporters said Yuzvendra Chahal was just talking about patriotism and respect for the country he lives in, especially when the situation is like the next world war. But some believe public figures should be careful about sharing information when emotions are already running high.
Soon after the post went viral on the social media platform, a user posted that both Siraj and Shami had removed Chahal from their following list on Instagram, where emotions were already running high in parts of India following the death of Ali Khamenei.
Members of the Shia community took to the streets in different parts of India after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in a US and Israeli airstrike. To many Shiites, he is more than just a political leader.
Also read: Shahid Afridi calls Mohsin Naqvi cheap to punish Pakistani stars financially
Khamenei is a top religious teacher known as Marja-e-Taqlid, and many Indian Muslims follow him for spiritual guidance. In Lucknow, huge crowds gathered near the famous Bala Imambara. People raised slogans to express their deep condolences.
In Srinagar, thousands of people gathered. Women were seen holding photos of Khamenei. Many people cried openly. Anger was everywhere on the streets. Slogans were also raised against the United States and Israel. For the Shia community in cities like Srinagar, Lucknow and Hyderabad, the loss is personal, as it was for Mohammad Siraj.
Now, with this background, Yuzvendra Chahal’s post becomes even more sensitive. The message feels so strong but the claims about Siraj and Shami unfollowing the Indian spinners are false. They still follow each other on Instagram and these claims are false.
Notably, Shami and Chahal are currently not playing in the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup, but Siraj has been named in the national team and will play against England in the semi-finals. Chahal, who used to be India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, has not been part of the national team since 2023.
