Tharoor Catches IND vs WI ODI, Backs Man of the Match Pick
Synopsis
Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor attended the India vs West Indies ODI on September 28, shared an instinctive Man of the Match prediction with waiting media after leaving early, and was vindicated when selectors made the same call.
Key Takeaways
Shashi Tharoor watched a significant portion of the India vs West Indies ODI on September 28, 2026 .
He left the match before its conclusion and was approached by the media for a reaction.
Tharoor shared an instinctive pick for Man of the Match , which he did not name publicly in the post.
His pick was subsequently confirmed by the official Man of the Match selectors.
Indian politicians commenting on live cricket matches remains a common and widely followed practice given the sport's national prominence.
Cricket has a way of pulling even the busiest lawmakers into its orbit — and on Monday, September 28, Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor was no exception, stepping away from a India vs West Indies ODI mid-match only to find the media waiting for him on the way out.
Tharoor posted on X that he had caught 'a good chunk' of the #INDvWI clash before leaving early, and that his gut call on the standout performer was subsequently validated — by the official Man of the Match selectors themselves. He did not name the player, but the alignment between his instinct and the panel's verdict clearly delighted him.
The media ambush outside the ground
The candid detail that the media 'nabbed' him on his way out adds a familiar colour to the story: a high-profile MP attending a marquee cricket fixture is always fair game for a quick reaction. Tharoor's phrasing — 'instinctive reaction' — suggests he spoke off the cuff rather than from a prepared brief, lending the exchange an authenticity that his eventual vindication only amplified.
Politicians in the stands: cricket's oldest ritual
Indian politicians and cricket have shared an inseparable bond for decades. Tharoor, a former UN Under-Secretary-General and ex-Union Minister representing Thiruvananthapuram, has occasionally weighed in on ongoing series and player performances — fitting for a public figure whose constituency passion for the sport mirrors the nation's. The India–West Indies ODI series is among the more anticipated bilateral contests on the home calendar, drawing packed stands and outsized media attention.
That a senior opposition MP's quick, unscripted take landed on the same page as the match officials is, at minimum, the kind of small cricket credibility that resonates with fans far more than a formal press statement ever could.
The bigger question now: will India carry that match-winning momentum through the remainder of the series?
Point of View
An unscripted media moment outside a cricket ground that lands correctly is low-stakes but genuinely relatable outreach. It also reflects a broader pattern: senior politicians using social media to humanise their public personas through shared cultural moments like cricket, rather than purely policy messaging. The fact that his instinct matched the official verdict, however trivially, is the hook that turns a routine outing into a shareable moment.
NationPress
28 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Shashi Tharoor attend the India vs West Indies ODI?
Yes, Tharoor posted on September 28, 2026 that he watched a large portion of the India vs West Indies ODI before leaving early.
Who did Tharoor pick as Man of the Match in the IND vs WI ODI?
Tharoor did not name the player publicly in his post, but said his instinctive pick was later confirmed by the official Man of the Match selectors.
What did the media ask Tharoor at the IND vs WI match?
Tharoor was stopped by the media after leaving the ground, and he shared his instinctive reaction about the match, including his Man of the Match choice.
Is Shashi Tharoor a cricket fan?
Tharoor has publicly commented on cricket matches and players on multiple occasions, reflecting a widely shared passion for the sport among Indian public figures.
When was the India vs West Indies ODI that Tharoor attended?
The match was held around September 28, 2026, the date Tharoor posted his reaction on X.
