Ayodhya: In a landmark event, priests from the Ram Temple will swap their traditional robes for sports attire as they represent the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in the Shri Ram Premium Cricket League. The one-day T20 tournament, scheduled to take place in Ayodhya on December 22, will feature four teams associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple: Larsen & Toubro, Tata Consultancy Services, Canara Bank, and a team representing the temple trust itself.
Omkar Singh, spokesperson for the temple trust, said that all matches would be played at a private college cricket ground. "The tournament will bring together religious devotion and sportsmanship in a unique celebration," he said.
Trust secretary Champat Rai and other trustees will be present at the ground, cheering for their teams. While Ayodhya's priests are traditionally known for their passion for wrestling, cricket is now set to become a part of the Ram Temple's evolving legacy.
Cricket has already made its presence felt in the temple town, with legends like Sachin Tendulkar visiting during the consecration ceremony. Other cricket stars, including Ravindra Jadeja, Gautam Gambhir, and Sunil Gavaskar, have also paid their respects at the temple in the past.