New Delhi, August 16: Former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, died on Thursday, August 16, at the age of 93. He was admitted at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on June 11 for urinary tract infection. The doctors said that his health deteriorated in the last 36 hours and he was put on life support. The former PM breathed his last at 5.05 PM (IST), said AIIMS bulletin. 

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was a great orator and poet, had given a message to the Indian Cricket team, which was going to play a series in Pakistan after 19 years, saying Khel bhi jeetiye, dil bhi jeetiye (Win matches as well as the hearts).

Vajpayee's message went on to prove true as the Indian team not just won the Test series and the ODI series, but also created history in the process under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly.

The Indian cricket team's performance was not just celebrated in India, but also appreciated by the people of Pakistan.

The Indian team that had won the series boasted of names like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Yuvraj Singh, Virendra Sehwag, Mohammed Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Irfan Pathan among other names.

Dr Ratnakar Shetty, who was the manager of Team India for that series, gave an account of what former PM Vajpayee had said to the team.

Shetty said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee met the players of the Indian team for about an hour. Before the team left for the tour, Vajpayee told the players that their objective on this tour should not just be to win matches but also the hearts of the people, Khel bhi jeetiye, dil bhi jeetiye. A bat was also presented to captain Ganguly by the former PM, which had the message written on it that read Khel hi nahi, dil bhi jeetiye-- shubhkamnaye (Not just the games, win the hearts too- good wishes for the tour).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 07:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).