Cricket

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the performance of the United States men's cricket team during the ICC T20 World Cup held in the United States and West Indies earlier this year. Addressing an Indian diaspora event at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi said, "Some days back here, the T20 World Cup took place. The USA team played so well in that competition. That team had so many Indian people who are living here and their contributions were witnessed by the whole world."The USA hosted 16 matches during the T20 WC 2024, which was held from June 1 to June 29. Matches took place in New York's Nassau County Stadium, Texas's Grand Prairie Stadium, and Florida's Central Broward Park. The USA team performed admirably, finishing second in the Group Stages with two wins and a loss. They defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over and gave India a tough fight while defending a low total of 111 runs.In the Super Eights, the USA lost all three of their matches but gave a strong performance against finalists South Africa, losing by 18 runs while chasing 195. This was the USA's first World Cup appearance in either the 20 or 50-over formats.Several players who represented India at the U19 level had strong performances for the USA in the tournament. Saurabh Netravalkar took six wickets, including those of Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan, and South African captain Aiden Markram. Harmeet Singh, an Indian U19 bowler who played for India in the 2012 U19 WC and domestic cricket for Mumbai, also played for the USA, taking four wickets and scoring 69 runs in four innings.USA captain Monank Patel scored a crucial half-century against Pakistan, helping his team reach 159/3. India won the tournament, ending their 11-year ICC trophy drought.PM Modi's praise for the USA cricket team highlights the growing popularity of cricket in the United States and the contributions of Indian-American players to the sport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his confidence in the Indian contingent for the upcoming Paris Olympics, stating that the team will showcase its strength on the global stage. India's participation in the Summer Games has witnessed a steady increase over the years, with the Tokyo Olympics marking a significant milestone with the largest contingent of 124 athletes. This contingent brought home seven medals, the highest tally for India in a single edition of the Summer Games.As of Sunday, 82 Indian athletes have qualified for the Paris edition, according to Olympics.com. With over two weeks remaining, India hopes to see more athletes secure their spots for the Games, which commence on July 26.PM Modi's unwavering support for the Indian contingent reflects his belief in their abilities. He emphasized that the team will demonstrate its strength and determination. "India is sending a great team to the Paris Olympics. You will see how the entire team and athletes will show their strength. This self-confidence of the youth is the real capital of India, and this youth power shows the biggest potential to take India to new heights in the 21st century," PM Modi said while addressing the Indian community in Moscow.PM Modi also lauded the Indian players for their exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup. India's dominance throughout the tournament, culminating in a thrilling victory over South Africa, showcased the team's resilience and commitment."You too must have celebrated the victory in the recent T20 World Cup. The real story of winning the World Cup is also the journey of victory. Today's youth of India does not accept defeat till the last ball and the last moment. Victory belongs to those who are not ready to accept defeat," PM Modi said, commending the players' unwavering spirit.Earlier on Monday, PM Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for an informal meeting. The Russian Foreign Ministry shared a video on Twitter capturing the warm greeting between the two leaders.PM Modi's visit to Moscow underscores the strong diplomatic ties between India and Russia. He was received by Denis Manturov, the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, at the Vnukovo-II airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome. The Indian community in Moscow also extended a warm reception to PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent interaction with the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team revealed a heartwarming anecdote involving wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Modi recalled a phone conversation with Pant's mother following the cricketer's horrific accident in December 2022.Modi expressed his shock at the self-confidence and belief Pant's mother displayed, assuring him that her son would emerge victorious. He also commended Pant's honesty in acknowledging his own mistake for the incident.Pant shared his recovery journey, revealing the doubts he faced from others about his ability to return to the cricket field. However, he remained determined to prove his critics wrong.Modi hosted the team for breakfast, where they engaged in "memorable" conversations about their experiences during the World Cup. The Prime Minister praised the team's resilience and determination, highlighting their ability to overcome challenges and achieve success.Pant's mother's unwavering belief and Modi's encouragement served as a source of inspiration for the cricketer during his recovery. His honesty and determination are a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the triumphant Indian T20 World Cup-winning team in New Delhi on Thursday, where star batter Virat Kohli shared his insights on his remarkable performance in the tournament.Kohli, who was adjudged 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning 76-run knock in the final, had endured a lean patch before the title clash, scoring just 75 runs in the tournament. However, he rose to the occasion when it mattered most, guiding India to victory in Barbados.During his interaction with PM Modi, Kohli expressed his gratitude to head coach Rahul Dravid for his unwavering faith in him, even when his confidence was at its lowest. "I told Rahul Dravid bhai that I hadn't done justice to the team and myself so far," Kohli revealed. "But he told me that when the opportunity arrives, I am sure you will perform."Kohli admitted that he lacked confidence before the final, but a blistering start with three boundaries in the first over gave him a much-needed boost. "I told Rohit [Sharma] that I don't have enough confidence," he said. "But when I got those boundaries, I felt like something was happening."With India losing early wickets in the final, Kohli's focus shifted to surrendering himself to the team's cause. "My only focus was to surrender myself to the team and focus on what's best for the team," he said. "I felt that I was thrown into the situation. It's hard to explain the feeling. Some things are bound to happen."Kohli's match-winning knock was a fitting end to a tournament that had been a rollercoaster of emotions for him. "It was a fairytale end for me in the tournament," he said. "Especially with the way I batted after India had lost early wickets."Despite his retirement from T20I cricket, Kohli emphasized that he will continue to play the longer formats. "I am still hungry to play for India in Tests and ODIs," he said. "I want to contribute to the team's success in any way I can."

Virat Kohli Expresses Gratitude to PM Modi for Congratulatory Call After T20 World Cup TriumphIndian cricket star Virat Kohli has extended his heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a congratulatory call following the team's historic T20 World Cup victory on Saturday. Kohli, who was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock of 76 against South Africa in the final, took to social media to express his appreciation for the Prime Minister's kind words and encouragement."Dear @narendramodi sir, thank you so much for your very kind words and your support and encouragement always. It has been a privilege to be a part of this team which has brought the cup home. We are deeply touched & overwhelmed with the happiness it has bought the entire nation," Kohli wrote on Twitter.Earlier in the day, captain Rohit Sharma also thanked Modi for praising Team India for winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. "Thank you so much @narendramodi sir for your kind words. The team and I are very proud to be able to bring the cup home and are truly touched by how much happiness it has brought everyone back home," Sharma wrote on Twitter.Following India's victory, PM Modi called the team to congratulate them. He praised Rohit Sharma's leadership and impressive T20 career. Both Rohit and Kohli have announced their retirement from T20 Internationals after India snapped their 11-year ICC trophy drought."Time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward. It's been a long wait for us, waiting to win an ICC tournament. You look at someone like Rohit, he's played 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He deserves it," Kohli said."That was my last game as well. Honestly, I have enjoyed it since the time I started playing this format. There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I have loved every moment of it. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted to do. win the Cup and say (goodbye)," said Rohit.The T20 World Cup victory marks a significant milestone for Indian cricket, ending a long wait for an ICC trophy. The team's performance throughout the tournament was commendable, with key contributions from all players. The victory has brought immense joy and pride to the nation, and the players have been hailed as heroes.

Mohammed Shami Urges Citizens to Vote, Expresses Gratitude for PM Modi's PraiseIndian star pacer Mohammed Shami cast his vote in Amroha during the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. After exercising his franchise, Shami emphasized the importance of voting and encouraged citizens to "elect the government of their choice.""Every citizen has the right to cast their votes and elect the government of their choice," Shami told the media. "It is a matter of pride for me that PM Narendra Modi took my name during his speech (in Amroha) and praised me and my game."Shami's vote came as part of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls, which saw voting held in eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh: Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr.Earlier this year, PM Modi had wished Shami a speedy recovery after the pacer underwent a successful operation on his Achilles tendon. Shami is currently undergoing rehabilitation from the injury.On April 19, Shami provided an injury update to his fans, expressing his eagerness to make a comeback. "Injuries don't define you, your comeback will... Can't wait to be back out there with my team!" he wrote on Instagram.Shami is not participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where he was expected to play for the Gujarat Titans (GT). He also missed the five-match Test series against England at home in January-March due to his injury.The 33-year-old last represented India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November. Despite playing through pain, Shami emerged as the tournament's highest wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets in just seven matches.Shami's performance in the World Cup was a testament to his resilience and determination. He missed the subsequent tour to South Africa and the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in January due to his injury.