Visakhapatnam, Oct 29: It was a historic and emotional day here in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (October 29) as Indian players wore jerseys bearing their mothers' names during the 5th One Day International against New Zealand.
Match scorecard; Photos; Match report
In a unique initiative by "Star Plus" TV and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian cricketers paid tributes and appreciated the contributions of their mothers.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had the name of his mother - Devki on the back of his shirt as he walked out for the coin toss in the series decider. Breaking away from the norm of sporting their fathers' names, India did a first, making their mothers proud by displaying their names. (VIDEO: Dhoni, Kohli make moms proud)
After winning the toss, Dhoni was asked about his mother and the initiative. He said that mothers' contributions should be appreciated as like people remember the soldiers safeguarding the country.
#TeamIndia sporting their mothers' names on the jersey in the 5th and final ODI #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/pWcMAKMchB
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2016
"It is an initiative to appreciate the contributions of moms. If you ask me, it was always how emotionally connected I was with my mom," the 35-year-old Dhoni said after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
He continued, "It is not that dads are not there. They are there but it is just that mothers' contribution we just don't appreciate it the way we have to. It is good that it is put in the public platform.
"What I would request is, the whole of India should keep in their mind... it should not be like...often we talk about soldiers and we get patriotic before the 26th of January (Republic Day) and 15th of August (Independence Day), what is important is to get up everyday and thank them for what they have been doing. And in the same way the contribution of moms should be appreciated."
Proud of #TeamIndia @ianuragthakur @narendramodi #NayiSoch #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/zABBebpxxD
— Rahul Johri (@RJohri) October 29, 2016
Before the start of the series, Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane appeared in an advertisement by "Star Plus" with the tagline "Nayi Soch" where they are seen displaying their mothers' names on their jerseys.
Today also being Diwali, Indian players will be hoping to gift the nation and all the mothers a series-clinching victory.
'Mother's contribution' as important as a soldier's, says India Captain @msdhoni during the toss #Sandesh2Mothers #Sandesh2Soldiers pic.twitter.com/4vRrq1IWtH
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2016
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