Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Team India over the phone and congratulated all the players for their triumph over South Africa in a nail-biting final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. He extended his special thanks to cricketing great Rahul Dravid, saying his “incredible” journey as the head coach helped shape this success.
Spoke to the Indian team and congratulated them on their exemplary success at the T20 World Cup. They have shown excellent skill and spirit throughout the tournament. Each player’s commitment is very motivating. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 30, 2024
Dravid, who will no longer coach Team India, is going out on a high after India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final on November 19, 2023. “Rahul Dravid’s incredible coaching journey has shaped the success of Indian cricket. His unwavering dedication, strategic insights and nurturing the right talent have transformed the team. India is grateful to him for his contributions and for inspiring generations. We are happy to see him lift the World Cup. Happy to have congratulated him,” the prime minister said in a post on X.
Rahul Dravid’s incredible coaching journey has shaped the success of Indian cricket. His unwavering dedication, strategic insights and nurturing the right talent have transformed the team.
India is grateful to him for his contributions and for inspiring generations. We are… pic.twitter.com/8MKSPqztDV
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 30, 2024
He spoke to skipper Rohit Sharma and congratulated him for his “splendid” captaincy, appreciating his T20 career. He also lauded Virat Kohli for his player-of-the-match knock of 76 runs that helped India put up a competitive score, and recalled his contribution to Indian cricket. The two cricketers also announced their retirement from the international format of T20 after the historic win, which saw India ending a title drought after 13 years.
Dear @ImRo45,You are excellence personified. Your aggressive mindset, batting and captaincy has given a new dimension to the Indian team. Your T20 career will be remembered fondly. Delighted to have spoken to you earlier today. pic.twitter.com/D5Ue9jHaad
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 30, 2024
Dear @imVkohli, Glad to have spoken to you. Like the innings in the Finals, you have anchored Indian batting splendidly. You’ve shone in all forms of the game. T20 Cricket will miss you but I am confident you’ll continue to motivate the new generation of players. pic.twitter.com/rw8fKvgTbA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 30, 2024
Modi then congratulated Indian bowlers Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah for their contributions. He appreciated Pandya for the final over and talked highly of Bumrah’s last over towards the end of the game. He did not forget to mention Surya Kumar Yadav for his crucial catch, which likely turned the tide for the Indians against South Africa.
Late on Saturday (June 29), after India won the match, the PM posted a congratulatory video message for the ‘Men in Blue’ and hailed them as champions. He said the cricketers have won the hearts of crores of Indians.
“CHAMPIONS! Our team brings the T20 World Cup home in STYLE! We are proud of the Indian Cricket Team,” he said in a post on X, along with the video. He described the thriller in which India repulsed a determined South African team as historic.
He said more than 140 crore Indians are feeling proud of the cricketers’ performance, as they won the cup in the field and hearts of crores of Indians in villages and streets. Noting that India did not lose a single match, he added that it is not a small achievement in a tournament where so many countries took part.
(With PTI inputs)
Comments
0 comment