In a significant transformation to India’s ICC World Cup 2023 jersey, the traditional three white stripes adorning the shoulder have been replaced with India’s iconic tri-color.
As the countdown to the ICC World Cup 2023 approaches its climax, an exciting twist has been added to the fervor. On Wednesday, the ICC unveiled the official anthem for this edition, titled ‘Dil Jashn Bole,’ which garnered mixed reactions on social media. However, a few hours later, Adidas, India’s official kit sponsor, presented their own anthem for the Indian cricket team. This 2-minute 21-second anthem, aptly named “Impossible Nahi Ye Sapna, 3 Ka Dream Hai Apna” (It’s Not Impossible, It’s Our Dream of Three), encapsulates India’s relentless pursuit of a third ODI World Cup victory.
Kapil Dev led India to their inaugural ODI World Cup triumph in 1983, followed by MS Dhoni breaking the long dry spell with India’s second ODI World Cup win in 2011. In between, India clinched another World Cup in 2007, albeit in the T20 format.
The Adidas anthem features the luminaries of Indian cricket, including skipper Rohit Sharma, cricket sensation Virat Kohli, vice-captain Hardik Pandya, emerging talent Shubman Gill, pace maestros Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, the versatile Ravindra Jadeja, and spin wizard Kuldeep Yadav.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweeted, “1983 – the spark. 2011 – the glory. 2023 – the dream. Impossible nahi yeh sapna, #3kaDream hai apna.”
Beyond its catchy rap that carries a resounding message to end India’s quest for an ICC trophy, the anthem’s video offered a glimpse of India’s World Cup jersey.
A notable alteration was made to the jersey donned by the Indian team in the recently concluded Asia Cup. The three white stripes adorning the shoulders have been replaced by India’s cherished tri-color. The jerseys adorned by Rohit, Kohli, and their comrades in the video showcased orange, white, and green stripes on the shoulders.
Netizens have overwhelmingly hailed Adidas’ move as a masterstroke, as the tri-color stripes elevated India’s World Cup jersey to unprecedented levels. This isn’t the only modification the jersey will undergo for the World Cup; the Dream11 logo, prominently featured during the Asia Cup, will be conspicuously absent during the World Cup, in adherence to ICC regulations that permit only the team’s name in the jersey’s center.
Despite the absence of an ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy, India enters the ODI World Cup as one of the frontrunners. Their robust squad, recent form, and familiarity with home conditions are the primary reasons behind this optimism. India prepared for the event in style by clinching their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title.
The two-time ODI World Cup champions will kickstart their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. The tournament opener will see England and New Zealand lock horns in Ahmedabad, in a rematch of the last edition’s final.
