Unique cricket tournament in Bhopal features players in dhoti and kurta, commentary in Sanskrit; see video

Just like many other things, cricket is also an inevitable part in the lives of every Indian. They not only watch cricket with love and devotion but also keep talking about it. Cricket, with all its stories of victories, losses and hope, brings a rollercoaster of emotions, every time it is played on the field and has a unique way of connecting everyone.

While the game of cricket is seen as a professional rivalry on both domestic and international platforms, there are also times when friendly contests are being played for fun and as a part of socialising. One such unique cricket match recently became a talking point, not just for its winning prize but for the interesting way players donned dhoti and kurta.

Not only that, the match also had its commentary being done in the Sanskrit language, thus displaying a proper mix of culture and sports.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: In a unique cricket tournament (Maharishi Maitri Match Tournament) organized by Sanskriti Bachao Manch in Bhopal, the players can be seen playing in ‘dhoti’ and ‘kurta’ while commentary is being done in the Sanskrit language. A total of 12 teams are… pic.twitter.com/VU7Y7y2t1Q

— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2024

The unique cricket tournament, named ‘Maharishi Maitri Match Tournament,’ is organised by the Sanskriti Bachao Manch in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. In a video shared by news agency ANI, the players can be seen taking part in a cricket match with sheer energy and dedication. Ditching regular jerseys, players chose dhoti and kurta while the commentary can be heard being done in Sanskrit.

A total of 12 teams are understood to be taking part in the competition. However, what caught the attention was the fact that the players of the winning team would not receive any ordinary trophy and would be rewarded with ‘Ayodhya Darshan’ for a cultural visit by the Culture Preservation Platform.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: ‘Maharshi Cup’, with Cricket commentary and umpiring in the Sanskrit language, started in Bhopal today. The players played the match while wearing a dhoti-kurta. pic.twitter.com/ChGodvioMF

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) January 5, 2023

Notably, this is not the first time that such a game has been played in India. Last year, a video of a match from the ‘Maharshi Cup’ went viral. The event was reportedly held in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal.

The video not only featured live commentary in Sanskrit but also showed players taking part in the game wearing traditional dhoti and kurtas. Not only that, the umpiring was also done in Sanskrit. According to media reports, the ‘Maharshi Cup’ aims to promote the ancient Sanskrit language and sportsmanship among the Vedic family and also marks the participation of teams from various Vedic institutions.