Bhubaneswar: In a spiritual gesture, Indian cricketers Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Akshar Patel visited the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri on Saturday, seeking the blessings of the sibling deities ahead of the highly-anticipated India-England ODI match at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.
The three players arrived at the temple early in the morning, amidst tight security, and were warmly welcomed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). They were escorted through the Beherana Dwara to the Ratna Singhasan, where they offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
Following their visit to the 12th-century shrine, the players expressed their happiness and gratitude for the opportunity to seek divine blessings.
With the crucial ODI match against England just a day away, the Indian team will be looking to carry the divine energy and blessings from the Jagannath Temple onto the field to secure a winning start to the series.