This collage exhibits Indian PM Narendra Modi and Indian cricket crew celebrating after profitable the Asia Cup 2025. — AFP/Reuters/File
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come beneath fireplace after describing India’s victory within the ACC Males’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 as “Operation Sindoor”, prompting widespread condemnation that the comment militarises a sporting occasion.
Modi’s remark, posted on social media platform X, congratulated Indian cricketers on their win whereas framing the match in militaristic phrases.
Social media customers and commentators shortly condemned the comparability. Critics say equating a cricket match with a navy operation dangers politicising sport and undermining the sport’s spirit.
Reacting to the transfer, a journalist wrote on X: “A prime minister declaring Cricket Match equal to war. Just because India lost the war to Pakistan they need anything just anything to compensate for that loss.”
One other consumer termed Modi’s feedback “tone-deaf”.
In the meantime, journalist Fakhar Durrani responded by mentioning India’s tendency to deal with cricket as battle. He was of the view that Pakistan’s cricket board ought to preserve a disciplined, skilled construction with merit-based choice to strengthen the game internally, just like the skilled requirements in Pakistan’s armed forces.
The remark comes in opposition to the backdrop of heightened tensions earlier this 12 months, when a Could assault in Pahalgam prompted a four-day navy confrontation between New Delhi and Islamabad.
India blamed Pakistan for the assault; Pakistan denied the allegation. The stand-off ended with a ceasefire brokered by the US.
