Team India’s former batter Virender Sehwag has requested the BCCI and Jay Shah to use the name ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ on the India cricket team’s official jerseys in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. In support of his argument, Sehwag also quoted the example of the Netherlands team which earlier played with the name ‘Holland’.
Earlier, the official invite sent by Indian President Droupadi Murmu to G20 delegates as “President of Bharat” sparked a controversy around India’s name change. The invitation grabbed the attention of the citizens as it was for the first time that it referred to the head of state as the “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India” in an official capacity.
I want ‘Bharat’ in the India Cricket Team jersey: Virender Sehwag
After the whole debate started about India’s name change, Virender Sehwag took to Twitter on September 5 and urged the BCCI and Jay Shah to put the name ‘Bharat’ on the Indian team’s jersey.
“I have always believed a name should be one that instills pride in us. We are Bhartiyas. India is a name given by the British, and it has been long overdue to get our original name, ‘Bharat’, back officially. I urge the BCCI and Jay Shah to ensure that this World Cup our players have Bharat on our chest,” Sehwag tweeted on September 5.
“In the 1996 World Cup, the Netherlands came to play in the World Cup in Bharat as Holland. In 2003, when we met them, they were in the Netherlands and continue to be so. Burma has changed the name given by the British back to Myanmar. And many others have gone back to their original names,” the former Indian batter mentioned in another tweet.
Meanwhile, an old social media post by Sehwag from Asia Cup 2023 India vs Pakistan game has gone viral across the social media platforms. The former opening batter had used the hashtag #BHAvsPAK instead of the usual #INDvsPAK which had got interesting reactions from the cricket fans.
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Team India is currently participating in the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka and have reached the Super Four Stage of the continental championship. The ICC ODI World Cup is scheduled to begin on October 5 while the Men in Blue will play their first game in the marquee tournament against Australia on October 8.