On Saturday, March 26, 2022, the official Twitter handle of the Indian football team shared a bunch of photos ahead of the start of a friendly match with Belarus.
One of these photos went viral because it captured the essence of what many internet users called: “unity in diversity”†
The now viral photo shows three players of the Indian men’s soccer team praying before the match. What makes the photo special is that you can see the three players praying according to the customs of three different religions.
Everything warmed up and ready!
Watch LIVE here 👉 https://t.co/b9t6aw12aO#BLRIND #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/Lbz3p6fZiR
— Indian football team (@IndianFootball) March 26, 2022
While sharing the photo, one Twitter user commented: “This photo of the Indian football team says a lot about India’s ‘real’ power @IndianFootball”. Another user called the photo “Best picture of the Indian football team #indianfootball”.
Although the Blue Tigers (as the team is affectionately known) lost the match, their photo won the hearts of netizens.
This picture of the Indian football team says a lot about India’s ‘real’ strength@IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/XBMQ5kjE74
— Gopals (@i_gopalsharma) March 28, 2022
Best picture of Indian football team#indianfootball pic.twitter.com/L2Gep3AWGS
— Ashish Mehta (@anm1976in) March 27, 2022
Whether you open your hands in prayer or close them, #IndianFootball is for you, it is for everyone. #IndianFootballForwardTogether pic.twitter.com/G0d8Q8DNo7
— Voice of Indian Football (@VoiceofIndianF1) March 26, 2022
This is what India should strive for… What a lovely gesture, Indian football team you have shown to think about when our country is torn by hate..❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/WfHJUo8kwj
— Sihab Neelambra (@neelambra_sihab) March 27, 2022
Just before the Indian Football team started their friendly against Belarus.
Beautifully captured ️ pic.twitter.com/rp1Wx4bA8z
– Shilpak. (ugach_kahitarii) March 26, 2022
This is the Indian football team
This is India pic.twitter.com/IGqBhetAky— Samaniya Mushtaq (@rj_samaniya) March 28, 2022
Belarus won the match by scoring three times in the second half. The friendly match was held in Bahrain as part of the preparations for the upcoming 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
According to Goal, an international football news website, the Indian team this time consisted of seven new players, namely Prabhsukhan Gill, Danish Farooq, Aniket Jadhav, Roshan Singh, VP Suhair, Hormipam Ruivah and Anwar Ali. Seasoned players such as Sunil Chhetri and Sahal Abdul Samad were unable to participate due to injuries.
