New Delhi, February 22 Countless players of Indian origin are bringing pride to their respective countries, and this is a defining characteristic of Indian identity. Wherever they go, Indians remain connected to their roots and contribute to the development of the places where they live and work, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.
In his monthly "Mann Ki Baat" radio address, Modi noted that numerous players of Indian origin are bringing pride to the countries they represent, and this is clearly visible in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"I often say, 'The one who plays, blooms'. Sports also unite us. You must be watching the T20 World Cup matches. And I am very sure that while watching the matches, you have often noticed a particular player," he said.
"The jersey might be from another country, but when you hear the name, you feel that this person is from our country. Then, a sense of pride arises," he added.
The Prime Minister pointed out that these players of Indian origin represent the countries where their families have settled.
They step onto the field wearing the jerseys of their respective countries and represent their teams wholeheartedly, he said.
Modi pointed out that Canada has the highest number of Indian-origin players among all the teams playing in the T20 World Cup.
Captain Dilpreet Bajwa was born in Gurdaspur, Punjab; Navneet Dhaliwal is from Chandigarh; and the list includes names like Harsh Thakar and Shreyas Mowa, who are raising the pride not only of Canada but also of India, he said.
The Prime Minister said that the US team has many players who have emerged from Indian domestic cricket, and captain Monank Patel has also played for Gujarat's under-16 and under-18 teams.
He said that Saurabh from Mumbai, Harmeet Singh, and Milind Kumar from Delhi are all a source of pride for the US team.
The Oman team today features many players who have previously played for different Indian states. Players like Jatinder Singh, Vinayak Shukla, Karan, Jai, and Ashish are strong links that bind Omani cricket, he said, adding that players of Indian origin are also ensuring their place in the teams of New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Italy.
"There are countless such players of Indian origin who are bringing pride to their respective countries, becoming an inspiration for the youngsters there. This is the hallmark of Indian identity. Wherever Indians go, they remain connected to the roots of their motherland and contribute to the development of their 'karambhoomi' – the country they live and work in," the Prime Minister said.
