Rohit Sharma reveals reason behind eating soil after India's World Cup triumph
Barbados: After India's triumphant victory in the T20 World Cup, captain Rohit Sharma made headlines with a unique celebration. The skipper plucked a piece of the Barbados pitch and put it in his mouth following India’s seven-run victory over South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval on June 29, 2024.
Two striking visuals captured the emotions of the moment: Rohit lying flat on the ground, pounding it in celebration, and later, quietly walking to the center of the pitch to taste the soil. This unusual act drew curiosity and comparisons to tennis legend Novak Djokovic, who is known for similar gestures.
In a video posted by the BCCI, Rohit explained his actions. "I was feeling the moment when I went to the pitch because that pitch gave us this victory. We played on that particular pitch and won the game. I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well. So I wanted to have a piece of it with me," Rohit said, emphasizing the special significance of the pitch where their dreams came true.
The victory marked India's first World Cup title since 2011, ending a 13-year wait filled with close calls. Rohit's spontaneous celebrations included hugs, tears, screams, and dance moves with teammates and support staff. Despite the joyous celebrations, Rohit has struggled to sleep properly, but he doesn’t mind. "We had a blast with the teammates till very early in the morning. So again, I did not sleep properly, but that is absolutely fine by me," he shared.
Rohit, who played a pivotal role both as a batsman and captain, reflected on the surreal experience of winning the World Cup. "The feeling actually is surreal. I would still say it has not sunk in totally. It has been a great moment," he said. This victory made Rohit the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to win a World Cup.
Despite the exhaustion, Rohit is savoring every moment. "This moment was very, very special for all of us. And I want to live it. I want to live each moment, each second, each minute that is passing by. I want to make the most of it," he expressed.
Following the World Cup triumph, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20Is, joining Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in concluding their T20I careers on a high note.
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After fake ID crackdown, IRCTC daily new accounts down to 5000 from one lakh: Railways
New Delhi (PTI): With a new, stringent system to establish user identity, the number of new user IDs being added daily on the IRCTC website has declined to about 5,000 from nearly one lakh, officials said on Saturday.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that the crackdown by Indian Railways on train ticket booking through fake identities is yielding positive results, according to a press note.
Before the latest reforms, this number had touched nearly one lakh new user IDs per day, it said.
"Following the introduction of a stringent system to establish user identity and detect fake IDs, about 5,000 new user IDs are now being added daily on the IRCTC website," the note said.
The officials stated that these steps have already helped Indian Railways deactivate 3.03 crore fake accounts.
"Another 2.7 crore user IDs have either been temporarily suspended or identified for suspension based on the suspicious activities they are indulging in," they said.
The Union minister directed officials to ensure that the ticketing system is reformed to a level where all travellers are able to book tickets easily through a real and genuine user ID, the press note added.
Additionally, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to provide local cuisine of the region in Vande Bharat trains.
Introducing local cuisine that reflects the culture and tastes of the regions being traversed will significantly enhance the passenger experience, officials said.
This facility will be expanded to all the trains progressively in future, they added.
