During Sunday’s Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted an inspiring facet of the T20 World Cup 2026 buildup: the rise of Indian-descended players across international teams.
With poetic flair, he noted, ‘Those who engage in sports flourish, forging unbreakable bonds.’ Fans, he suggested, experience a spark of delight spotting Indian-sounding names on global jerseys—athletes whose heritage traces back home, now fully committed to their resident nations.
Canada exemplifies this with its captain Dilpreet Bajwa from Gurdaspur, Punjab, and Navneet Dhaliwal of Chandigarh. Standouts Harsh Thakur and Shreyas Movva amplify Canada’s game while honoring Indian legacy.
America’s contingent pulses with Indian influence. Gujarat alum Monank Patel captains a side including Mumbai’s Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh, and Milind Kumar from Delhi—veterans injecting world-class prowess.
Oman fields a formidable group: Jatinder Singh, Vinayak Shukla, Karan, Jay, and Ashish, transitioning from Indian state circuits to international duty. Similar stories unfold in New Zealand, UAE, and Italy squads.
‘Indianness thrives universally,’ PM Modi declared. Rooted yet adaptive, these players uplift their communities abroad, becoming role models for the next generation. Their odyssey in cricket illustrates a profound truth: heritage endures, enriching every soil it touches. Amid T20 anticipation, they symbolize unity, skill, and boundless potential.