Kapil Dev started trending on Twitter after the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was renamed to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Fans on social media started demanding to rename the recently established Narendra Modi Stadium. Notably, In February 2020 the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad also known as Motera Stadium was renamed after PM Modi.
Meanwhile, on Friday Prime Minister Narendra Modi took Twitter to announce a very big change. He said that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will be renamed after Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Notably, the Khel Ratna award is the highest sporting honor in India.
“I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.
I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views.
Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award!
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/zbStlMNHdq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2021
Legendary Dhyan Chand is arguably the best hockey player of all time. Also, his birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day. Notably, the legendary hockey players have also bagged three Olympic golds for India. Also, this move was announced just after team India won the medal in the Olympics after the wait of 41 long years. Notably, India grabbed a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 after defeating Germany.
Meanwhile, Kapil Dev is named amongst the greatest cricketer to represent India in International cricket. He was the first Indian captain to help India win the World Cup title in 1983 during the West Indies dominance era. However, still, there has been no big cricket stadium named after Kapil Dev.
Here are some of the reactions:
#Kapildev made history in #Ahmedabad & #BishanBedi devoted his life to #Delhicricket yet it is Narendra Modi & Arun Jaitley who have been honored by #cricketboard & named stadium after them for their 'glorious' contribution to cricket in India.
— Vidya Bhushan Rawat (@freetohumanity) August 6, 2021
Kapil Dev has given to indian cricket, what possibly no other player has given to their nation (in any sport?).
Yet, the largest stadium in the world is named after a living person.Jingo.
— Avtej Singh (@SinghAvtej) August 6, 2021
This is a welcome change. Thank you @narendramodi 🙏
I also request to change the world’s largest cricket stadium’s name from Narendra Modi Stadium to Kapil Dev or Sachin stadium. https://t.co/gqzUKSGE9j— Amarkant Singh (@singh_amarkant) August 6, 2021
Very few people know that Modi was appointed as the captain of Indian World Cup winning team in 1983 but he backed out just to give chance to junior player Kapil Dev. pic.twitter.com/1eUNHTNOeU
— Aditya Ojha (@thispodcastguy) August 6, 2021
Name of the icon makes
the stadium even more iconic.
.
.
Kapil dev stadium Ahmedabad 🏟️#DhyanChandKhelRatna pic.twitter.com/XpKKEhuJ0S— Prince (@Prince26651253) August 6, 2021
What about Modi stadium? Why can’t it be Kapil Dev stadium? Selective reactions.
— WMR (@IamAdvRizvi) August 6, 2021
Wow, Major Dhyan chandji and Modiji are same to same.
So cute.Ab jaldi se Ahmdabaad and Delhi ke stadiums ka naam Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni ke naam pe ker de please @narendramodi Ji.
World Cup winner hai sir. 🙏— Dr Amar Kr Saxena (@AmarKrSaxena5) August 6, 2021
Thanks for this remarkable decision @narendramodi sir, Appreciate it.
Also plz rename Narendra Modi Stadium (Motera Stadium) in Gujarat as Sachin Tendulkar or Kapil Dev Stadium or any Indian Cricket legend name. @sachin_rt @PMOIndia @RahulGandhi @ArvindKejriwal @AmitShah https://t.co/f2xebp42pd— Raghavendra H S, Bengaluriga (@ragubengaluriga) August 6, 2021
"Kapil Dev is among India’s foremost sportspersons & cricketer who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation’s Cricket Stadium honour will be named after him," pic.twitter.com/pDuxzH9yvT
— RamMerpula (@RamMerpula) August 6, 2021
Narendra Modi stadium ka naam bhi ab Kapil dev stadium hona chahiye…kyunki cricket ka junoon tbhi se aaya desh m…
1983 world cup winner k naam hona chahiye duniya ka sabse bda cricket stadium ahemdabad vala???
Jaitley ka bhi naam htao delhi stadium se .agr sports ki kadar ho— *VRC_CELEBRATES*- Ek Mauka AAP Nu 🇮🇳 (@VRC_CELEBRATES) August 6, 2021