Virender Sehwag Urges BCCI to Use ‘Bharat’ Over ‘India’ on World Cup 2023 Jersey

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider renaming the Indian cricket team to “Bharat” for the upcoming ICC World Cup. Sehwag, a two-time World Cup winner, expressed his belief that it’s time to officially reinstate the country’s original name, ‘Bharat,’ and instill pride in its citizens.

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Sehwag stated, “I have always believed a name should be one which instills pride in us. We are Bhartiyas ,India is a name given by the British & it has been long overdue to get our original name ‘Bharat’ back officially. I urge the @BCCI @JayShah to ensure that this World Cup our players have Bharat on our chest.”

In the 1996 World Cup ,Netherlands came to play in the World cup in Bharat as Holland. In 2003 when we met them, they were the Netherlands & continue to be so.
Burma have changed the name given by the British back to Myanmar.
And many others have gone back to their original name

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 5, 2023

Sehwag cited examples of other nations using their indigenous names in global tournaments, such as the Netherlands (Holland) and Burma (Myanmar). He highlighted the importance of embracing one’s original identity.

However, Sehwag’s appeal has sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some praised his sentiments, others expressed concern about erasing the memories associated with the name ‘India’ during iconic moments in the country’s history.

The recent debate surrounding India’s name change was further fueled when President Droupadi Murmu extended an official invitation to G20 delegates, addressing herself as the “President of Bharat.” This marked a significant departure from the traditional usage of “India” in official capacities.