All the members of the Indian team, led by captain M.S. Dhoni, chose the final one-dayer as an occasion to express gratitude to their mothers by wearing the team jerseys with the ladies’ name inscribed.
Just before the match, Dhoni said in an interview: “We are quite used to having the surnames from the dad’s side. And, what’s important is to appreciate the stuff that mothers have done for us.”
“It’s a very emotional connect and it’s good that it’s put on a public platform. I would like to request the whole of India to keep this in mind and appreciate them everyday,” Dhoni said.
It may be recalled that some of these cricketers including Dhoni (mother’s name Devaki), Ajinkya Rahane (Sujata), Virat Kohli (Saroj) have already been seen on TV recapping the contribution of the elderly ladies and the sacrifices they made in making their sons successful cricketers.
Incidentally, this is the first time the Indian cricketers are wearing the jerseys with their mothers’ names.
Fromer Indian star V.V.S. Laxman was also seen telling the official broadcaster the contribution of his mother Sathyabhama in his evolution as a cricketer. He was proudly showing the jersey with her name on, which he was not wearing since he is part of the TV commentary panel.