Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar invited for Pran Pratishtha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, the two cricketing icons of India, have been reportedly invited to attend the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024.

 

 

The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2020. He was the first one to get invitation and is likely to be a part of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) head Mohan Bhagwat.

 

A report says that there are over 8000 dignitaries invited by Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra and names of two of India's greatest batsmen - Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli - is among the invitees. The other big names in the list of invitees are actors Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata among others.

 

 

Saints, priests, Shankaracharyas, religious leaders, and esteemed individuals, including former civil servants, retired Army officers, lawyers, scientists, poets, musicians, as well as Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipients, have received invitations via mail and WhatsApp.

 

Kohli is on a break from cricket and will miss the white-ball matches in South Africa. He will return to the Playing XI in the two-match Test series against the Proteas.

 

It will be interesting to see whether Kohli is able to make it to the ceremony or not. There is a Test series starting on January 25 between India and England at home, just three days later. Kohli can still make time and attend the ceremony, then hop back to Hyderabad for the match. India also play 3 T20Is vs Afghanistan in middle of January but expect Kohli to give that series a miss as he is no more in the T20I plans of BCCI.