On September 5, 2023, amidst ongoing discussions about the possible change of India’s name to Bharat during a special parliament session, a notable correction was made by former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag. This correction was directed at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following their announcement of the squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
The backdrop to this correction revolves around the current Indian government’s consideration of officially renaming the nation from “India” to “Bharat.” This proposed name change had gained significant traction, particularly after the President of the country used the term “Republic of Bharat” in her official dinner invitations to the participating nations of the upcoming G20 summit.
Also Read: Number 4, 5 & 6 Predicted for India in World Cup 2023: No Place for SKY
Virender Sehwag, an exuberant and active figure on social media, seized upon this emerging trend and used it as an opportunity to express his sentiments. In his message, he emphasized a shift from referring to the national cricket team as “Team India” to “Team Bharat.” His tweet read, “Team India nahin #TeamBharat. This World Cup, as we cheer for players like Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, and Jaddu, may we have ‘Bharat’ in our hearts, with the players proudly sporting jerseys bearing the name ‘Bharat.’ @JayShah.”
Team India nahin #TeamBharat.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 5, 2023
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 . https://t.co/LWQjjTB98Z
Notably, this shift in nomenclature signifies a deeper resonance with the potential name change and a sense of patriotic pride. While the cricket team’s official name remains unchanged, the sentiment behind Virender Sehwag’s message is to carry the essence of “Bharat” within the hearts of both the players and the nation’s cricket enthusiasts.
Also Read: World Cup 2023 Announced: Samson, Chahal Ignored, Surya, Iyer, Rahul & Kishan Included
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the announcement of the ICC World Cup 2023 squad had its own share of headlines, as it saw the omission of prominent players such as Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson from the 15-member list. This further fueled discussions and speculations within the cricketing community.