Barinder Saluja, Chandigarh,Sept 29 : Nike, the official apparel sponsor for Board of Control for Cricket in lndia (BCCI), today unveiled the new One Day international (ODl) Team kit. To showcase the brighter, bolder and new technologically advance ODI kit, lndia’s Men in Blue – Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha and Gautam Gambhir – were present at Nike’s launch event today at Chandigarh. Team lndia will debut this new ODI kit in the forth coming lndia – Australia series and will also be available for fans at Nike retail in October 2010. The event saw Nike’s introduction of its globally acclaimed considered design ethos – one that combines sustainability principles and innovative performance products for athletes – in lndia in the sport of cricket. The new brighter bolder blue jersey showcased at the launch event is made entirely from recycled polyester, each one produc6d from up to eight recycled plastic bottles. The national team kits represent an important step in the process to make all Nike products more sustainable and the New Year (Spring 2011) will see Team lndia debut the recycled version on pitch as well as be made available at Nike retail for fans. Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Mr. Shashank Manohar, President, BCCI said, “Cricket is a dynamic phenomenon, with as many as three versions being played and followed all over the world. Cricket in lndia has evolved over the years, from being a sport, to an institution that unites the entire country. This evolution has been embraced by all those associated with the game, while still adhering to the spirit and essence that characterized the sport in its fledgling years. Nike’s new ODI kit, with the innovations in technology and brighter blue, embodies the same. We wish our teams greater success in the coming seasons.”
Harsha Bhogle, a renowned Cricket commentator was the stage anchor here, who introduced the Players of Indian Team & Nike Officials. After unveiling the new ODI attire for ‘Men in Blue’, answering to the question of the comparison of his statistics with other players, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar replied, “Yes I have made record almost in every part of the game, but still i don’t like being compared with anyone. All are fantastic cricketers, weather my seniors or juniors. Playing cricket is the foremost aim of mine and I will keep on playing till my last breath. He also added that, “Ups and downs are always there when you complete a circle of life. Beauty is to continue work hard and that is what I believe in and do”.
Bhajji, when asked about his popularity among Australian cricketers, he promptly replied, “That Australians Love me very much, that’s why i am more popular among Australians than any other Team.” He also sand that people have also started thinking that he is a better batsman than a bowler, but he assured the fans that he will always remain as an attacking bowler and iff he bats well than that will be better for him and country. Bhajji asserted that in the upcoming series too, he was determined to perform better to remain on the top of their mind.
The five day Test Match will be commencing on the 1st of October in PCA Cricket grounds, Mohali.