After defeating all the participating teams in the league stage and then beating New Zealand in the semi-final, Team India suffered a heartbreaking six-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad on November 19.

After the disappointing result, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Indian dressing room to cheer up the players.

In a video doing rounds on social media, PM Modi interacted with each player and lauded their effort throughout the tournament. He asked the team to ‘stick together’ while also adding that the country is with them.

PM Modi’s gesture impressed former India opener Virender Sehwag, who feels it will lift the spirit of the dressing room and inspire the cricketers to lift the title in the next edition.

“It is very rare for a prime minister to meet players in the dressing room and lift their spirits after a crushing defeat. I have never seen a prime minister taking time out of his busy schedule to lend a shoulder to players heartbroken after a defeat,” Sehwag said in an interaction with ANI.

“It was an incredible gesture by Prime Minister Modi to visit the dressing room and boost the morale of the boys. It was a time when the boys needed some hand-holding, a gesture of solidarity and support. In such lows, you need someone to comfort you like family members do. I believe it was a touching gesture that will go a long way to motivating our boys ahead of future engagements, especially multilateral events. It will motivate us to cross the final hurdle next time,” he added.

Talking about the World Cup 2023 final, Indian batters failed to get going on a slow pitch and managed to post only 240/10 in 50 overs after being asked to bat first.

In reply, the Aussies rode on Travis Head’s stunning hundred (137 off 120) and Marnus Labuschagne’s unbeaten half-century (58 off 110) to overhaul the target with 42 balls to spare.