India cricket captain Virat Kohli has expressed his support for a nationwide planned show of solidarity in the battle against coronavirus.
At 9pm IST (4:30pm GMT) on Sunday night, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the country's citizens - while still respecting lockdown measures - to switch off their lights and instead light a candle, diya or even use the flash on their mobile phones for nine minutes to dispel the darkness associated with the outbreak.
"This Sunday, 5th April we have to challenge the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to introduce it to the power of light," Mr Modi said in a public address from New Delhi on Friday.
He added: "Switch off every light in the house, reach to your main gate or balcony and light a candle, diya, torch or your mobile's flash for nine minutes."
Last month, people in India went to their balconies to pay tribute to health workers fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed the lives of 77 people in the country as of Sunday with more than 3,000 positive cases confirmed overall.
And the latest show of support has received public backing from India's revered cricket skipper Kohli, who went to social media to encourage people to demonstrate their backing for India's "health warriors".
"The power of the stadium is in its fans," he wrote in a Twitter post to his 34.6million followers in which he also tagged Mr Modi's official accounts. "The spirit of India is in its people.
"Tonight 9pm for 9min Let’s show the world, we stand as ONE. Let’s show our Health Warriors, We stand behind them. Team India - IGNITED."
Other Indian cricketers have also publicly backed the plan, including opener Rohit Sharma.
"Team India, we cant get this prescription wrong," he wrote on Twitter. "Our life depends on winning this test match.
"Show your solidarity, join us in “The Great Team India Huddle” today 5th April 9pm for 9min. Light to Fight. Are you with me?"
