India's Modi taps power of cricket on campaign trail

Wildly popular sport has featured in prime minister's bid for third term

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Indian fans arrive at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to watch the 2023 final of the Cricket World Cup. © AP

JOHN DUERDEN, Contributing writer

SEOUL -- When India's mighty cricket squad lost to Australia at the World Cup final in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the unusual step of consoling shocked players in the dressing room of a massive stadium named after himself.

Since then, Modi has invoked India's most popular sport on the campaign trail, and some saw last year's global sporting showpiece as the start of his re-election bid in national polls set to wrap up next week.

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