Ahead of the final match of the ODI World Cup 2023 between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a special puja was held at Bhagwan Cricket Ganesh temple in Chennai on November 17.
The Bhagwan Ganesh Temple is located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In the Cricket Ganesha Temple, the eleven heads represent eleven members of a cricket team. Meanwhile, the presiding deity has eleven heads, with another two Ganesha idols in batting and bowling postures.
A cricket-lover in Chennai has built a ‘Cricket Ganesha’ temple that has idols of Bhagwan Ganesha in several cricketing avatars.
Cricket fans often come to the Ganesh temple for prayers ahead of India’s match. On November 17, a special prayer was held where the founder of the temple, Rama Krishnan, chanted cricket bhajans, which he recited during his puja.
Speaking to the media, the founder of the temple, Rama Krishnan, said that every player in the team will be showered with blessings from Bhagwan Ganesha. “Bhagwan Ganesha will bless both right-handed and left-handed players equally in the game, whether he’s a batsman or a bowler.
Unbeaten in the tournament, team India delivered an all-round performance in the semis against New Zealand to book their spot in the tournament’s final game.
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli made history after becoming the first player to achieve fifty hundred in the ODI format. India scored 397/4 to put pressure on New Zealand. Later in the second inning, Mohammed Shami led an Indian bowling attack after bagging seven wickets and managed to stave off a stubborn New Zealand response spearheaded by Daryl Mitchell’s 134.
On the other hand, Australia became the second finalist of the ongoing extravagant tournament after defeating South Africa with three wickets at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16.
(with inputs from ANI)
