India endured a shocking defeat in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After the game, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Indian dressing room to uplift the team’s spirits and motivate the players after the loss.
Despite Modi’s presence at the stadium and in the dressing room, some politicians expressed dissatisfaction, trolling him for supposedly bringing bad luck and even labeling him as ‘panauti,’ a term suggesting a bad fortune. Former India cricketer and 2011 World Cup winner, Gautam Gambhir stepped forward to defend the Prime Minister, emphasizing that it’s the worst term to use especially to someone who is the PM of India.
The ex-Indian opener drew a comparison between Modi’s presence and that of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who also attended the India vs. Pakistan semi-final during the 2011 World Cup, played in Mohali.
The former opener said, “The word that was used ‘panauti’, is probably the worst word that could’ve been used against anyone, particularly a prime minister of this country. In the 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final, Dr Manmohan Singh was there. Had we lost that match and he had come to meet us, what would’ve been wrong in that?.”
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles was also present at the World Cup final. Both Marles and PM Modi participated in handing over the trophy to Australian captain Pat Cummins as his team emerged victorious against the hosts. They beat men in Blue by six wickets to clinch the title for a record six times.
