In the stadium named after him in Ahmedabad, Narendra Modi met the visibly upset India players moments after the team had slumped to a heartbreaking loss in the final. Having won ten out of ten games in the World Cup until then, Rohit Sharma’s team were outplayed by Australia, leaving the 92,000-odd spectators stunned and the Indian team in tears.

A video released on Tuesday shows Modi, who left Pat Cummins alone with the trophy as he went to shake hands with the victorious Australian side, delaying the celebration, later made his way to the Indian dressing room, where he spoke to Rohit, the captain, and Virat Kohli, the Player of the Tournament.

He then proceeded to shake hands with the other members. “I thought I’d meet everyone. Defeats happen. These things keep happening, just keep increasing the morale of every player,” he added.

Modi proceeded to hug Mohammed Shami, saying, “You did very well”, before inviting the team to his residence in Delhi.

The events drew mixed reactions from social media users.

Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM @narendramodi for specially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back! pic.twitter.com/Aev27mzni5

— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) November 20, 2023

We had a great tournament but we ended up short yesterday. We are all heartbroken but the support of our people is keeping us going. PM @narendramodi’s visit to the dressing room yesterday was special and very motivating. pic.twitter.com/q0la2X5wfU

— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) November 20, 2023

So is this what Mr Modi was doing which kept Australia waiting for an hour to receive the trophy? https://t.co/htuynlXe1S

— Kit Harris (@cricketkit) November 21, 2023

https://twitter.com/Politics_2022_/status/1726832932755763600?s=20

Unpopular opinion, but the dressing-room is literally the only private and safe space left for the players and support staff. It should be theirs and theirs only.

Yes, they occasionally release videos from the dressing-room. But, in that case they control the content, the… https://t.co/nHOv0UlIDF

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) November 21, 2023

The dressing room is the
sanctum sanctorum of any
team. @ICC does not allow anybody
to enter these rooms apart
from the players and the
support staff.

PM of India should have met
the team outside the dressing
room in the private visitors
area.

I say this as a…

— Kirti Azad (@KirtiAzaad) November 21, 2023

Indian cricket team should have been allowed to grieve privately, than in front of cameras in their dressing room with PM Modi. #justsaying.

— Kumar Manish (@kumarmanish9) November 21, 2023

Regarding the PM Modi entering the Indian dressing room, there's a precedence. Helmut Kohl went to the German change rooms after the 1986 final. Angela Merkel went in after 2006 & in 2014.

I'm no fan of this.

However, this needn't be biggest outrage of the day.#INDvsAUSfinal

— Vijay A (@VAAChandran) November 21, 2023

Macron visited French dressing room after World Cup final loss, Grabar-Kitarovic celebrated Croatian wins in their dressing room during 2018 and hugged every player after final loss. Modi’s gesture of visiting the dressing room after final loss was quite normal. It happens now

— Gappistan Radio (@whyteknight07) November 21, 2023