In a powerful joint briefing by the Army, Navy, and Air Force on Operation Sindoor, DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai offered not only a clear military update but also a striking analogy from the cricketing world. While addressing India’s defence capabilities, he also paid tribute to star cricketer Virat Kohli on his Test retirement.
“Targeting our airfields and logistics is way too tough… I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from Test cricket; he is one of my favourites,” said Lt Gen Ghai, reflecting a rare personal touch amid high-stakes military disclosures.
He went on to recall a 1970s Ashes proverb: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don’t get ya, Lillee must.” Drawing from this, he explained India’s layered grid defence strategy. “If you see the layers, you’ll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you.”
This layered security posture, as Ghai outlined, ensures that India remains equipped to counter even the most complex threats across land, air, and sea. The cricket metaphor resonated not just as nostalgia, but as a subtle message — no matter how sophisticated the intrusion, one of India’s defence layers will strike back.