After Team India's heartbreaking loss to Australia in the World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, several Indian cricketers who were part of the playing XI in the finals pointed out that the defeat hasn’t sunk in and they are heartbroken by it, as are billions of Indian fans. They expressed their anguish over the turn of events, acknowledging the disappointment of falling short in the much-anticipated final.
Ravindra Jadeja, taking to X, shared that following the defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the Indian dressing room and motivated the Indian players. He added that the support of the fans is what keeps them going.
"We had a great tournament but we ended up short yesterday. We are all heartbroken but the support of our people is keeping us going. PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the dressing room yesterday was special and very motivating," the Indian bowler said.
Similarly, the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023 and pacer, Mohammad Shami thanked PM Modi and fans for supporting him personally and the Indian side throughout the World Cup. "Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM Narendra Modi for especially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back!" he said.
The opening batsman Shubman Gill said, "Been almost 16 hours but still hurts like it did last night. Sometimes giving your everything isn’t enough. We fell short of our ultimate goal but every step in this journey has been a testament to our team’s spirit and dedication. To our incredible fans, your unwavering support in our highs and lows means the world to us. This isn’t the end, it’s not over until we win. Jai Hind”
Shreyas Iyer thanked team management and fans for backing the Indian Team. He said, “We’re heartbroken, it still hasn’t sunk in and it won’t for a while. My first World Cup was an experience that has taught me so much and made me grateful for everything that’s come my way. Thank you to the BCCI, team management, support staff, my teammates, and you the fans for backing us from the beginning right up until the end. (Heart emoji) And congratulations to the entire Australian team on a marvellous campaign.”
During the post-match presser, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid revealed that the Indian dressing room was heart-wrenching. "It was tough to see as a coach because I know how hard these guys have worked, what they have put in, the sacrifices they have made. It’s tough to see…because you get to know these boys personally, you get to see the effort they put in, the hard work that we have put in over the last month, the kind of cricket we have played."
