Published: Apr 04, 2020, 08:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 04, 2020, 08:59 PM (IST)
India cricket team’s young brigade members on Friday extended their support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to Indian citizens to light candles, torches or phone flashes at 9pm for 9 mins on Sunday (April 5) to show appreciation towards those fighting against the Coronavirus outbreak. The deadly virus has so far affected more than 3000 people in India and claimed 75 lives.
On Saturday, India’s top-order batsman KL Rahul and all-rounder Hardik Pandya voiced their support for PM and urged the citizens to listen to PM Modi’s appeal to Indians to spread light as mark of respect.
Let’s shine our lights on the Frontline Warriors who are showing us the path from this darkness!
Let’s ignite the spirits of a billion strong TEAM INDIA @BCCI
From our Dressing room, to your Doorstep, the Lakshman Rekha has been drawn…
We are with you @narendramodi ji !
hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) April 4, 2020
“Let’s shine our lights on the Frontline Warriors who are showing us the path from this darkness! Let’s ignite the spirits of a billion strong TEAM INDIA @BCCI. From our Dressing room, to your Doorstep, the Lakshman Rekha has been drawn…” Pandya wrote in his tweet.
Meanwhile, Rahul wrote: “5th April 9pm for 9min..Stand up ! Light up ! Show us your roar, ignite the spirit of a billion hearts and throw this virus off our pitch without a hitch ! The spotlight is on you, together, we can win! @narendramodi @BCCI.”
Pandya was scheduled to make his international comeback in India’s ODI series against South Africa. While the first match in Dharamsala was washed out, the rest of the series was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5th April 9pm for 9min
Stand up ! Light up !
Show us your roar, ignite the spirit of a billion hearts and throw this virus off our pitch without a hitch !
The spotlight is on you, together, we can win ! @narendramodi @BCCI
K L Rahul (@klrahul11) April 4, 2020
The 26-year-odl all-rounder is also expected to turn out for the Mumbai Indians in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) that also has been postponed. A revised start date of April 15 was in place but that is now under doubt due to the continued spread of the virus in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to 49 sports personalities that included the likes of BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, badminton world champion P.V. Sindhu and chess legend Viswanathan Anand as he urged them to keep spreading awareness as the world fights deadly virus.
The world has come to a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic and it has led to all sporting events across the globe either being cancelled or suspended. The fate of the 13th edition of the IPL hangs in balance with the BCCI now also open to shifting the tournament to the October-November window if the ICC does plan to postpone the T20 World Cup.
