Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took a veiled dig at PM Modi after the heartbreaking loss of Team India in the 2023 World Cup Final on Sunday (November 19). While speaking to the media on Monday, Raut's remarks implied that if the match had taken place in Mumbai's Wankhede instead of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India would've won the World Cup trophy. However, Raut played safe and attributed these words to 'some people.'
"Our team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma played really well and won 10 games. However, we lost the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Some people say that we would have won if the match had happened at Wankhede Stadium. I can't comment about it, though," said Sanjay Raut.
Raut Alleged Politics In Cricket
Raut earlier on Sunday claimed that cricket had been moved from Mumbai, which was the nation's traditional powerhouse in the game, to Ahmedabad in Gujarat as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to hold a 'political event'.
"The World Cup (final) is happening in Ahmedabad. Earlier, Mumbai was the Mecca of cricket. All such events were organised in Delhi, Mumbai or at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Entire cricket was moved from Mumbai to Ahmedabad because they (BJP) want to a do political event," Raut claimed. In its pursuit of political gains, the BJP will not spare even cricket, Raut alleged.
Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, which is the world's largest cricket stadium with a capacity of 1.32 lakh, hosted the final of the World Cup between India and Australia yesterday.
About India's Heartbreaking Loss
Chasing a below-par score of 241 for victory, Australia rode on 137 from opener Travis Head and an unbeaten 58 from Marnus Labuschagne to reach the target in 43 overs to silence the 1.3 lakh spectators present in the venue, just like Pat Cummins had said before the final.
Head got great support from Labuschagne at the other end as the duo stitched a192-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take Australia to victory in their 8th World Cup final.
