5 Indian cricketers who received letter or praise from PM Narendra Modi ft. R Ashwin
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has always shown keen interest in cricket. He was spotted cheering for the nation from the stands during big games as well as in his interactions with cricketers.
The Prime Minister has never held back from appreciating Indian cricketers for their performances both on and off the field. Many prominent cricketers in the country have been praised by one of the most important and influential figures of the nation.
As the PM of the country, Narendra Modi may not be able to deliver his presence on the ground on most occasions, however, his praise for the cricketers indicates that he follows all the action with utmost interest and passion.
On that note, here are five Indian cricketers who received letter or praise from PM Narendra Modi.
5 Indian cricketers who received letter or praise from PM Narendra Modi
#5 Suresh Raina
Among India's finest cricketers and 2011 World Cup winner, Suresh Raina announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020. The left-hander scored 5615 runs from 226 ODIs with five hundreds and 36 fifties. He also scored 1605 T20I runs with one century.
Raina was also a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As he announced his retirement, PM Narendra Modi wrote a two-page letter to Raina, appreciating his efforts for the nation, his performance in the 2011 World Cup, and his exceptional fielding skills.
Here are a few excerpts from Modi's letter to Raina after his retirement from international cricket:
"I do not want to use the word 'retirement because you are way too young and energetic to 'retire. You are padding up for the next innings of your life, after an extremely fruitful innings on the cricket field."
"Generations will remember you not only as a fine batsman but also as a very useful bowler who the captain could turn to when the situation demanded. Your fielding was exemplary and inspiring. Some of the best catches in recent international cricket have your distinctive imprint. It would take days to count just the number of runs you have saved by your alertness on the field."
"India can never forget your inspiring role during the 2011 World Cup, especially during the later matches. I saw you live in action at the Motera Stadium, Ahmedabad, during the. Quarter Final against Australia. Your anchoring innings had a big role to play in our team's victory. I can confidently say that most fans will miss seeing your elegant cover drives, one which I was lucky to witness live that day."
#4 Yuvraj Singh
Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh received a letter of praise from the Prime Minister in 2017 for his service to society through his foundation YouWeCan, which aims to fight cancer.
The former international cricketer had taken to his official Instagram account to express his delight over receiving a letter from Narendra Modi. He put up a post of the letter where the work of his foundation was acknowledged by the Prime Minister.
"It's an absolute honor & privilege for all of us here at Youwecan to receive such an encouraging letter from Hon'ble Shri @narendramodi ji himself. We at @youwecan strongly believe that each one of us together can change the world and it's not what you've got, its what you use that makes a difference. There is no greater reward than making someone else's life better and making a difference in the world #youwecan #gratitude 🙏🏻," he had captioned the post.
#3 Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20I cricket after the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won after beating South Africa in a thrilling final. Kohli was the highest run-scorer for the Men in Blue with his crucial 76-run knock, which also won him the 'Player of the Match' award.
Following his announcement of T20I retirement, PM Modi spoke to Rohit Sharma and Virat. He also tweeted about the conversation and lauded Kohli for his performance. The tweet included a picture of both the cricketers talking to the PM over a call.
Later, Kohli also took to his official X account to thank the PM for his congratulatory message.
"Dear @narendramodi sir, thank you so much for your very kind words and your support and encouragement always. It has been a privilege to be a part of this team which has brought the cup home. We are deeply touched & overwhelmed with the happiness it has bought the entire nation," his tweet read.
#2 MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, one of India's most successful players, who captained the team during their 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs, announced his international retirement from all forms in 2020.
Narendra Modi had penned a two-page letter, appreciating Dhoni for his contributions, heaping rich praise for the former captain.
"On 15th August, in your trademark unassuming style you shared a short video that was enough to become a long and passionate discussion point for the entire nation. 130 crore Indians were disappointed but also eternally grateful for all that you have done for Indian cricket in the last decade-and-a-half," a part of the letter read.
Dhoni also took to his official X account to thank the Prime Minister for his appreciation and wishes.
"An Artist,Soldier and Sportsperson what they crave for is appreciation, that their hard work and sacrifice is getting noticed and appreciated by everyone.thanks PM @narendramodi for your appreciation and good wishes," read Dhoni's tweet.
#1 R Ashwin
Most recently, Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test against Australia at The Gabba.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Ashwin for his exceptional international career with a two-page letter. He made a cheeky remark on his retirement as well.
"The announcement of your retirement from international cricket surprised fans in India and across the world. At a time when everyone was looking forward to many more off-breaks, you bowled a carrom ball that bowled everyone," an excerpt from the letter read.
He also went on to congratulate Ashwin for a stellar international career, highlighting some of his key stats, his performances in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, apart from stating that his jersey number (99) will be missed by all Indian cricket fans.