With the T20 World Cup set to begin in India on February 7, the build-up to the marquee tournament is taking on creative and cultural expressions across the country. In Varanasi, a city synonymous with exquisite Banarasi handloom, artisans are marking the occasion in silk.

Renowned for its Banarasi handloom heritage, the city is crafting special handwoven silk sarees as gifts for the families of all 15 members of the Indian men’s cricket team. The initiative blends India’s rich textile legacy with its deep love for cricket.

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The sarees feature cricket-inspired motifs woven into pure silk. The pallu depicts a cricket pitch complete with a bat and ball, while the body of the saree showcases symbolic references to India’s major cricketing triumphs, including World Cup victories in both men’s and women’s cricket. The theme of the collection has been titled “Pride of Indian Cricket.”

Speaking about the concept, businessman Dr. Sarvesh Kumar Srivastava said "It has been given the theme ‘Pride of Indian Cricket.’ If you look at the pallu, you’ll see photos (image) of the current World Cup. And across the entire body, we’ve shown how many trophies we’ve won, the women’s World Cup, the men’s 1983 World Cup, all of that is displayed. It highlights how many cups we’ve won, and this time, after winning, it will be our sixth (win).”

Each saree has taken nearly a month to complete and is currently in its final stages of finishing.

“The cost involved in making a single saree is actually quite high, especially considering the pre-processing work. However, for making a saree... since this saree is being made specifically for the players, the cost of one saree will be between 25,000 and 30,000 Rs. It is 100 per cent pure silk, and it is being made entirely on a handloom, as you can see here,” Dr Srivastava said. 

Once finished, the sarees will be sent as a token of support and goodwill for the Men in Blue to the cricket players' families via the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME).