Credit: Twitter
Indian batting great Virender Sehwag went viral for his reaction to the Men in Blue squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 in October. India kicks off its World Cup campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai and will hope to recreate the heroics from 2011 by winning the trophy at home.
As BCCI announced the list of players, Sehwag reacted to the tweet, asking the board to change the term ‘Team India’ to ‘Team Bharat’. The comment referred to reports about India likely renamed Bharat after the official invite to the G20 Heads of State and ministers for a dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu with the heading President of Bharat.
Sehwag tweeted, “Team India nahin #TeamBharat. This World Cup as we cheer for Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, Jaddu, may we have Bharat in our hearts and the players wear jersey which has “Bharat” @JayShah.”
Prior to the aforementioned tweet, Virender Sehwag had made his thoughts clear on the name of India to Bharat. Sehwag stated that he wanted a name that ‘instils pride’ and asked the BCCI and Jay Shah (BCCI secretary) to change India to Bharat. The former Indian opener also cited an example of the Netherlands and Myanmar, who changed their British names from Holland and Burma.
“I have always believed a name should be one which instils pride in us. We are Bhartiyas, India is a name given by the British & it has been long overdue to get our original name ‘Bharat’ back officially. I urge the @BCCI @JayShah to ensure that this World Cup our players have Bharat on our chest.”
Not something I ever aspire: Virender Sehwag on entering asking politics
After these comments, an entrepreneur Siddarth Pai posted that Virender Sehwag should have been in politics before his former India and Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir, who is a Member of Parliament. Reacting to these comments, Sehwag expressed athletes and entertainers should enter politics as it is a PR exercise. He further stated being a part-time MP isn’t something he aspires to be.
“I am not at all interested in politics. Have been approached by both major parties in the last two elections. My view is that most entertainers or sportsman should not enter politics as most are their for their own ego and hunger for power and barely spare genuine time for people, few are exceptions but generally most only do PR. I love being involved with cricket and commentating and being a part time MP whenever convenient is not something i ever aspire for.”
