Superstar Rajinikanth Receives Golden Ticket For Cricket World Cup 2023

Superstar Rajinikanth has been invited as a “distinguished guest” to the upcoming ICC World Cup next month, according to the BCCI. The cricket organisation has granted him a special Golden Ticket, providing unrestricted access to the tournament. The Golden Ticket was presented to Rajinikanth by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, as announced on its official social media account, accompanied by a photo of the two.

“The Phenomenon Beyond Cinema! The BCCI Honorary Secretary @JayShah presented the golden ticket to Shri @rajnikanth, the true embodiment of charisma and cinematic brilliance. The legendary actor has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions, transcending language and culture,” the post said.

“We are thrilled to announce that Thalaiva will grace the @ICC @cricketworldcup 2023 as our distinguished guest and will light up the biggest cricketing spectacle with his presence. #GoldenTicket,” BCCI added.

The highly anticipated tournament is scheduled to commence in Ahmedabad on October 5, featuring an opening match between the 2019 finalists, England and New Zealand. The Golden Tickets, part of BCCI’s promotional approach for this prestigious event they are hosting, provide special privileges to the recipients, ensuring they receive VIP treatment throughout the World Cup matches.

Sunil Gavaskar, a former Indian cricket captain and a key figure in India’s first World Cup win in 1983, commended the BCCI for this initiative, considering it a wonderful way to recognise trailblazers in various domains. Additionally, Gavaskar expressed the desire for the BCCI to extend a Golden Ticket to ISRO chief S Somnath, who played a pivotal role in India’s successful lunar mission, as a gesture of appreciation for his remarkable achievements.

In his column for Sportstar, Sunil Gavaskar praised the decision made by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. He specifically mentioned that as of his writing, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar have both received Golden Tickets to attend the World Cup matches.

Gavaskar also expressed the hope that the ISRO chief, who oversaw India’s moon landing mission, would also receive a Golden Ticket, although the full list of recipients remains unknown. He suggested that while it’s not feasible to offer these tickets to all former Indian players, it would be a grand gesture if associations hosting matches invited Indian players from their respective cities. Gavaskar also highlighted deserving candidates such as the two World Cup-winning captains, Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic and World Athletics Championship gold medalist, as potential recipients of the BCCI’s Golden Ticket.