The Indian cricket team wore jerseys with their mothers’ names on them, sending emotional ripples across the country, along with a strong message.
It was an unprecedented emotional moment on the eve of Diwali when the Indian cricket team walked out to play the last ODI against New Zealand at Vizag — the players sported jerseys with their mothers’ name printed instead of their own. Although the idea came out of a Star Plus initiative called Nayi Soch, the Indian cricket team captain, M.S. Dhoni explained that this was done to appreciate the things the players’ mothers had done for them.
Naturally, mothers of the members of the present Indian team seemed quite elated with their sons’ gesture. Dhoni’s mother, Devaki, who watched the match from her home in Ranchi had all praises for the intiative. “Achcha lagta hai.”
Daljit Bumrah, mother of Team India’s pacer Jaspreet, says that it was a sentimental moment when she was informed by her brother that the players have donned the jerseys with the names of their mothers. “Yes, it was a very emotional moment when I switched on the TV and saw my name on my son’s shirt. He has made me famous worldwide,” she says over the phone from Ahmedabad. Explaining her excitement she further adds, “It was a proud moment for all mothers and we thank God for that. For me Diwali came a day earlier when I saw this and had tears of gratitude and happiness in my eyes.”
However, she says it is not fair to take the credit from the players. “Although I appreciate this acknowledgement, they (the players) should have their own names too as they all have worked so hard to reach the position that they are in today,” she explains.
Incidentally, no two players in the present squad share a common mother’s name.
Jayant Yadav, who made his ODI debut, wore a jersey with his biological mother’s (Lakshmi) name on it. This however, has not angered his stepmother, Jyoti. “It is fine. I have absolutely no problems with it”, she says from Delhi. Although the 26-year-old right arm off-break bowler admitted his mistake at the presentation ceremony, his sister, Gargi has requested that the name be changed in the next match, if the practice continues. Jayant’s first mother, an air-hostess, had died in a plane crash near Auragabad about 17 years ago, before his father got married to Jyoti.
Axar Patel’s parents had to give the Saturday match a miss since they are currently on a tour in Kerala. “We only heard about it (players donning jerseys with mother names) and we are on cloud nine,” she informs from a cruise.
In a bittersweet moment, Chandrakali, mother of Amit Mishra, winner of the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards, had to spend her Saturday in the clinic due to health problems. But Amit’s sister conveys the message saying: “We have informed her about Amit’s performance and the jersey. On hearing this she was very happy. She could not watch the game since she went to sleep early.”
—Inputs from Dyuti Basu and Aarti Bhanushali
