‘Ashes to Ashes’: Lt General Rajiv Ghai Invokes Virat Kohli and Cricket to Illustrate India’s Air Defence
In a rare blend of sports and strategy, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), referenced Indian cricket star Virat Kohli during a high-level briefing on the ongoing Operation Sindoor, India’s strategic response to recent Pakistani airstrikes.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General Naval Operations, and Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, Lt Gen Ghai drew an analogy between India’s air defence system and iconic moments from cricket history. Noting Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, he said, “Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket today. Like most Indians, he is also one of my favourite cricketers.”
VIDEO | Special Defence Briefing on India-Pakistan military action: Referring to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli's retirement from Tests earlier in the day, DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai drew a parallel between cricket and military operations. Here's what he said:
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He went on to recount a famous saying from the 1970s Ashes series between England and Australia, highlighting the dominance of Australian pace legends Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don’t get you, Lillee must.”
Lt Gen Ghai used this reference to underscore the effectiveness of India’s multi-layered air defence system, suggesting that like the relentless bowling duo, each layer of the country’s defence is designed to intercept threats if others fail. “Even if most systems are breached, one will shoot them down before they reach their target,” he stated.
Addressing recent attempts by the Pakistan Air Force to strike Indian airfields on May 9 and 10, Lt Gen Ghai confirmed that none of the attacks managed to hit critical targets, crediting the resilience of India’s defensive network.
The briefing offered insight into the coordination among India’s military branches during Operation Sindoor, with top leaders from the Army, Navy, and Air Force presenting a unified front in the face of external threats.