New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to members of the Indian cricket team over the phone and congratulated them on winning the T20 World Cup. Officials said Modi congratulated Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma for his excellent captaincy and praised his T20 career. The Prime Minister also praised Virat Kohli for his innings in the final match and also praised his contribution to Indian cricket.
Both Sharma and Kohli have announced their retirement from international cricket after winning the T20 World Cup. Officials said that Prime Minister Modi praised Hardik Pandya for the last over of the final match and Suryakumar Yadav for catching David Miller on the boundary. He also praised the contribution of Jasprit Bumrah. The Prime Minister thanked coach Rahul Dravid for his contribution to Indian cricket. Modi praised Sharma, Kohli and Dravid in a post on ‘X’.
He told Sharma, “You are a man of excellence. Your aggressive thinking, batting and captaincy have given a new dimension to the Indian team. Your T20 career will always be remembered. It was a pleasure to talk to you today.” The Prime Minister told Kohli, “Like the innings in the final, you have taken the Indian batting forward brilliantly. You have shone in all formats of this game. T20 cricket will miss you, but I am confident that you will continue to inspire the new generation of players.” Praising Dravid, he said that his extraordinary coaching has shaped the success of Indian cricket.
He said Dravid’s unwavering dedication, strategic insight and skill in nurturing the right talent has made the team even better.
Modi said, “India is grateful to them for their contribution and for inspiring many generations. We were happy to see them lift the World Cup. Happy to congratulate them.” The Prime Minister said that the team displayed excellent skill and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. He said that the commitment of each player is very inspiring.
PM Modi expressed hope for the best performance of Indian players in Olympics
Expressing hope for an excellent performance by Indian players in the Paris Olympics starting in the last week of July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wished the Indian team all the best and urged the countrymen to encourage the players.
Sharing his thoughts with the countrymen in the 111th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the monthly radio program of ‘Akashvani’, Prime Minister Modi said that Indian players are working with full heart and soul in the preparations for the Paris Olympics and in the coming days, he will also get an opportunity to meet the Indian team and encourage them.
The world’s biggest sports event, the Olympic Games, is going to be held in Paris from 26 July to 11 August. Indian players are busy finalizing the preparations for these games. Modi said, “By this time next month, the Paris Olympics would have started. I am sure that all of you would also be waiting to cheer for the Indian players in the Olympic Games. I wish the Indian team all the best for the Olympic Games.” Recalling the memories of the Tokyo Olympics, he said that the performance of the players had won the heart of every Indian.
He said, “Since then, our players are working hard for the Paris Olympics. If we put all the players together, they have participated in about 900 international competitions. This is a very large number.” He said that the talent of Indian players is coming to the fore in shooting, both the men’s and women’s teams have qualified in table tennis and shooter daughters are also included in the Indian shotgun team. He said that this time the players of the Indian team will also compete in those categories in wrestling and horse riding, in which they have never participated before.
Referring to India’s best performance in the World Para Athlete Championship held a few months ago, he said, “You can guess that this time (in Paris Olympics) we will see a different level of excitement in sports. You will notice.” He said that Indian players have also waved their flag in chess and badminton.
He said, “Now the whole country is expecting that our players will perform well in the Olympics as well. They will win medals in these games and will also win the hearts of the countrymen.” The Prime Minister said that in the coming days he will also get an opportunity to meet the Indian team and during this time he will encourage them on behalf of the countrymen. Prime Minister Modi has often met and encouraged Indian players before the Olympics or any other big event. He urged people to use the hashtag ‘Cheer4India’ to encourage the players.
He said, “Through this hashtag we have to encourage our players…so keep this momentum…this momentum of yours…will help in showing the magic of India to the world.” So far, more than 80 Indian players, including the men’s hockey team, have qualified for the Paris Olympics. These games are being organized in 16 other cities of France besides Paris. The number of players participating in these games has been fixed at 10,500. In these, 329 events of 32 sports are to be organized. India had won seven medals including one gold in the Tokyo Olympics four years ago by giving its best performance ever.