Britain’s Prince William turned The Mall, the famous London road leading to Buckingham Palace, into a temporary cricket pitch on Tuesday. He invited several current and former international cricketers for an informal game in the build up to an award by the British Royal.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly and Ajinkya Rahane, who recently retired from all forms of cricket, were among those who joined West Indies great Brian Lara and England players Joe Root and Harry Brook for the event.
The Mall, a wide red-paved road in the heart of London, is usually the setting for royal processions and public celebrations. On Tuesday, however, it hosted a game of tennis-ball cricket as William picked up a bat and faced deliveries from Ganguly.
Dressed in a shirt and sweater, the prince played a few shots and posed for selfies with onlookers. Ganguly gave a brief assessment of his batting.
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“He batted alright,” said Ganguly when asked for his verdict on the prince’s skills.
Rahane shared his experience in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, describing the opportunity to play cricket on The Mall with Buckingham Palace in the background as a memorable one.
“Cricket has taken me to some remarkable venues across the world, but playing tennis-ball cricket right on The Mall in London with Buckingham Palace in the backdrop is an experience that will stay with me for a long time,” Rahane said in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday.
“It was a privilege to spend time with HRH Prince William and catch up with wonderful friends and icons of the sport Dada, Brian Lara, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and everyone else who brought so much joy to the pitch.
“We spoke about the unifying spirit of cricket, our memories of playing in England and back home in India, and the responsibility we share toward the future.”