Last Updated:December 15, 2024, 16:45 IST

The team Lok Sabha Speaker’s XI led by former Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur defeated Rajya Sabha Chairman’s XI team captained by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju by 73 runs.

A group of selected parliamentarians on Sunday played a friendly cricket match at Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium to raise awareness against tuberculosis. The team Lok Sabha Speaker’s XI led by former Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur defeated Rajya Sabha Chairman’s XI team captained by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju by 73 runs.

Thakur scored 111 runs during the Lok Sabha Speaker’s XI innings which played a huge role in his team’s victory over Rajya Sabha Chairman XI. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was awarded as the best fielder, while Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda was named the best bowler. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari received the Super Catch award. The award for ‘Super Six’ of the match was awarded to BJP MP Sudhakar K.

MPs who participated in the match, included Sarbananda Sonowal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, Mansuk Mandaviya, G Kishan Reddy, Suresh Gopi, and Ravneet Singh Bittu from the BJP, Chirag Paswan from Lok Janshakti Party, Jayant Chaudhary from Rashtriya Lok Dal, Gaurav Gogoi, Imran Pratapgarhi from Congress, Raghav Chaddha, Gurmeet Singh Meet and Harbhajan Singh from Aam Aadmi Party, Derek O’Brien and Yusuf Pathan from the Trinamool Congress among others.

Before the commencement of the match, Thakur said, “TB is a serious disease, and raising awareness is the most effective way to combat it. Spreading awareness about TB is a collective responsibility of the government, society, and Members of Parliament. During this winter session of Parliament, we MPs have resolved to enhance awareness against TB. To that end, select MPs from all parties are playing the TB-Free India Awareness Cricket Match.”

Thakur’s opponent Kirej Rijiju said, “Several of our MP colleagues have come here. With the mantra of fitness, this event has been scheduled to fill people with vigour through sports. Our mantra is TB free India and Fit India Movement”.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha also hailed the initiative and said, “”This is a good initiative. The match is being played for a good cause. I think the awareness of this cause will reach every corner of the country through this match.”

(With inputs from ANI)