Political row erupts over Kapil Dev's exclusion from India-Australia World Cup Final

Former Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev did not receive an invitation to attend the ICC World Cup final match between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on Sunday, sparking controversy and accusations of political interference.

The Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, alleged political motivations behind Kapil Dev's exclusion from the event, stating that "politics is everywhere, and cricket is no exception." Wadettiwar pointed fingers at undisclosed political factors as the reason for Kapil Dev's non-invitation.

Expressing his disappointment, Kapil Dev himself revealed that he was not invited to the World Cup venue by the organizers. He expressed a desire for the entire '83 team to be present and said "I wasn't invited there. They didn't call me so I did not go. As simple as that. I wanted the whole '83 team to be there with me but I guess due to the fact that it's such a big event and people are so busy handling responsibilities, sometimes they forget," Kapil has said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh joined the criticism, deeming it "simply unacceptable and extremely petty" that Kapil Dev was not invited. Ramesh drew parallels with another former cricketer, Bishan Singh Bedi, known for his outspoken nature. He emphasized Kapil Dev's support for women wrestlers during their agitation a few months ago.