In a recent piece of news, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left everyone in shock with her statement on India’s defeat against Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final. Notably, the summit clash of the tournament was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
But West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee has something very different to say while speaking about India’s only one but major heartbreaking defeat in the summit clash of prestigious cricket quadrennial. She also took some political digs at the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party.
“I can tell you if the (World Cup) final would have been in Eden (Gardens in Kolkata) or Wankhede (Stadium in Mumbai), we would have won. They (BJP) have given them saffron jerseys,” said Mamta Banerjee while addressing her party workers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.
"All federations have been taken over by political parties." - Mamata Banerjee
Furthermore, she spoke in detail about the saffron-coloured practice kit of the Indian cricket team. CM Banerjee targeted the Narendra Modi-led Union Government and blamed them of politicizing all the sports federations throughout the country.
“All federations have been taken over by political parties. There is gerua (saffron) in cricket and gerua in kabaddi. Now everything is turning into saffron. We are proud of our Indian players and I believe they will be the world champions. But even their dress has been turned to saffron when they practice. They used to wear blue earlier,” she said.
However, workers and members of Narendra Modi’s ruling party couldn’t keep themselves away from replying to WB CM Mamata Banerjee’s allegations of mixing politics into sports; they came up with an example of the Netherlands Cricket Team who also wear a saffron kit in their matches at any level in the cricketing world.
Talking about cricket, after a defeat in the ODI World Cup 2023 final; the new-look Team India under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav are in action in the five-match T20I series against Australia.
Here’s how fans reacted to the statement from WB CM Mamata Banerjee:
It's not about politics, it's about Ground Conditions.
— Entertainment Buzz (@Entertain_Buzz_) November 23, 2023
She is right 💯✔️✔️
Instead of Ahmadabad, final should’ve been held in Wankhede or Eden Gardens
— Syed Irfan Ahmad (@Iam_SyedIrfan) November 23, 2023
Yes actually
— Being Indian 🇮🇳 (@SunilSa02606284) November 23, 2023
Even I feel that crowd in Ahmedabad went silent for way too long 😗
Mumbai or Kolkata crowd would have lifted the team.
This is my opinion.
Has Mamata didi forgotten the 1996 WC Semis which was a huge debacle for Indian team ?!
— Sumit Agarwal 🇮🇳 (@sumitagarwal_IN) November 23, 2023
I don't like Mamta but for some reason, many fans would agree with this. Even if we hadn't won somewhere else, there's no point in conducting every big match in Ahemdabad. It does not have adequate hotels and other arrangements, and we saw that on the finals.
— Shahzeb Khan (@theshahzebkhan) November 23, 2023
Nope, They have to play on the ground where Aamir Khan's 'kachra' had dismantled the England team. That ground would have been the best to create history!
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) November 23, 2023
Mamata Banerjee's statement suggests a belief that hosting the World Cup Final in Kolkata or Mumbai could have positively influenced India's chances of winning. Local support and atmosphere can indeed impact teams in sports events.
— BaلQeeS🏏⚽ (@RashSports) November 23, 2023
yeah if this happened, there would have been different results. if World Cup was a bilateral series, India would have won easily, if Dhoni was captain, India would have won the World Cup, if the final was against Netherlands or Bangladesh, India would have won the World Cup😆
— Aatif - An Astrologer🏹 (@AatifAzio1) November 23, 2023
Instead of Ahmadabad, final should’ve been held in Wankhede only.
— बैंक_पंडित (@ramgurjar3594) November 23, 2023
Better cricket knowledge spotted..
— Sanjumon (@starringSANJU) November 23, 2023
Should have definitely gone with a pitch and venue which suits the Indian style of play..
In Ahmedabad, it became like we play in Dubai which is neutral for both teams.. No advantage there for us