Virender Sehwag Wants "Bharat" To Be Written On Indian Players' Jerseys During ICC World Cup

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• Sep 5, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Virender Sehwag urged the BCCI, led by Jay Shah, to consider having the jerseys of the Indian cricket team participating in the ...

Digital Desk: The ongoing discussion regarding the potential renaming of "India" to "Bharat" has now extended to the world of cricket, with former cricketer Virender Sehwag making a heartfelt appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Sehwag, a prominent figure in Indian cricket who played a pivotal role in the country's 2011 World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup victories, took to social media to voice his opinion.

In a tweet posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), Sehwag expressed his belief that it was high time to officially reinstate India's original name, 'Bharat.' He urged the BCCI, led by Jay Shah, to consider having the jerseys of the Indian cricket team participating in the upcoming ICC World Cup bearing the name "Bharat" instead of "India."

"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," he said.

The former cricketer also cited examples of other nations using their indigenous names in international sporting events to bolster his point. "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," Sehwag pointed out.

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Sehwag's appeal has generated mixed reactions on social media. While some praised him for his stance, others expressed concerns about erasing the cherished memories associated with the name "India."

"If winning hearts is an art, then you are Picasso at it, Viru Paaji," commented one user, appreciating Sehwag's sentiments.

However, another user expressed emotional attachment to the name "India," stating, "How can we erase the memories of 'India-India' chants when the whole country was cheering for our cricket team in the World Cup, for ISRO when Chandrayaan was launched, or numerous other occasions like this? This is not about politics; this is about emotions."

The debate surrounding the name change gained momentum when an official invitation sent by President Droupadi Murmu to G20 delegates referred to the head of state as the "President of Bharat." This invitation marked the first time that the term "Bharat" was used officially in reference to the country's leader, sparking further discussions about India's name change.

As the conversation around renaming India to Bharat continues, Sehwag's appeal to the BCCI adds a unique perspective from the world of sports, further fueling the national dialogue on this matter.