During an Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match between India and Pakistan on Sunday, the keywords ‘BharatvsPakistan’ and ‘BHAvsPAK’ started trending on X (formerly known as Twitter). With rumors of India’s possible renaming to Bharat gaining momentum across the country, cricket fans have not forgotten the raging topic even during the much-awaited India-Pakistan match. By replacing the name India with Bharat and IND with BHA, the fans tried very hard to see the keywords trending eventually.
100+ runs partnership of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in just 13.2 overs. What a start.#BharatVSPakistan #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/qRyTmE2x3W
— Raj Patel (@i_raj_patel) September 10, 2023
2 back to back wickets and Virat Kohli is here to put pressure on the Pakistanis again. #AsiaCup2023 #BharatVsPakistan pic.twitter.com/0jIC1mU376
— (@Nirmohee_) September 10, 2023
What a talent #ShubmanGill GETS 50 IN 37 BALLS pic.twitter.com/vynxzcg9mG#INDvsPAK #Gill #Rohit #Rizwan #RohitSharma #Shubman #shreyasiyer #PAKvIND #IndiavsPak #IndiavsPakistan #BharatVsPakistan #BHAvsPAK
— AP (@AksP009) September 10, 2023
Sunil Gavaskar, one of the best Indian cricketers, recently waded into the India-Bharat debate and shared his views on the name change saga that has gripped the entire country.
Opinions on this topic have become thick and heavy, with sports personalities sharing their thoughts on the subject.
After Virender Sehwag publicly shared his views on the issue, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar also shared his insights, suggesting that whatever call is made, it should be done at the official level.
Gavaskar admitted that the original name remains ‘Bharat’. But if there is to be change, it must be implemented in everything.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Sehwag had appealed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The 2011 World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup-winning cricketer appealed to the BCCI to consider buying jerseys for the Indian team participating in the upcoming ICC World Cup with the name Bharat instead of India.
Sehwag posted on
“I have always believed that a name should be one that instills pride in us. We are Bhartiyas. India is a name given by the British, and it has taken far too long to get our original name, ‘Bharat’, officially back. I urge the BCCI and Jay Shah to ensure that our players have Bharat on our chest this World Cup,” he said.
As an example, Sehwag pointed to examples of other countries using their indigenous names in global tournaments.
“At the 1996 World Cup, the Netherlands came to play as the Netherlands at the World Cup in Bharat. When we met them in 2003, they were in the Netherlands and they still are. Burma has changed the name given by the British back to Myanmar. And many others have reverted to their original names,” Sehwag said.
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