New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
on Sunday spoke to cricket captain MS Dhoni and congratulated him
on the Indian team's World Cup triumph, calling the victory
brilliant.
The prime minister told Dhoni that the country was
proud of the cricket team and also of his leadership, a PMO
official said tonight.
In his congratulatory messsage to the Indian team
shortly after its victory last night, Prime Minister Singh had
said, "the hard work and the effort of MS Dhoni and his men
have been rewarded".
"I join the nation in congratulating the Indian cricket
team on their victory. The hard work and the effort of MS
Dhoni and his men have been rewarded. They have shown the
world that India is at the top of the game of cricket", Singh
said soon after watching the Indian skipper hitting the
winning stroke with a huge six.
The Prime Minister, who watched the final on TV from 6pm
on returning to Delhi after electioneering in Assam, said the
Indian cricketers "have demonstrated great team spirit all the
concentration and the skill needed to win this well-deserved
World Cup".
"The Indian team has made India proud", Singh said.
On the eve of the Saturday final against Sri Lanka in
Mumbai, Prime Minister Singh had sent in his best wishes to
the Indian team, hoping it will emerge victorious.
"Keep it up is all I would say. I hope India wins,"
Singh said when asked about his message to the Indian cricket
team.
Singh, who watched the blockbuster India-Pakistan
semi-final clash in Mohali along with his Pakistani
counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani, had said he will not travel to
Mumbai to watch the final as he will be in Assam for poll
campaign.
"The whole nation joins in wishing the Indian cricket
team," he said, adding that he would be watching the game as
and when he gets time.
PTI
First Published: Monday, April 04, 2011, 00:36