India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir visited the famous Jagannath Puri Temple on Tuesday morning, just hours before the opening T20I of the five-match series against South Africa. They were joined by Tilak Varma and several members of the support staff for the spiritual visit ahead of the busy international schedule.
Footage released by local news channel OTV showed Suryakumar accompanied by his wife, Devisha Shetty, while batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was also seen seeking blessings at the Srimandir. Notably, it appeared that the team management had coordinated with local authorities well in advance to avoid any disruption and ensure a smooth darshan. Heavy security arrangements were in place around the temple to manage the gathering and facilitate the players' movement.
Senior officials, including the Puri district SP and Collector, along with representatives from the Odisha Cricket Association OCA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI, were also present during the visit. The presence of key administrative figures highlighted the significance of the team's arrival in the region and ensured that all logistical requirements were taken care of.
