India’s Air Defence: As Strong as ‘Ashes to Ashes’ Says DGMO
Cricket Analogy in India’s Air Defence Briefing
In a surprising turn during India’s Operation Sindoor briefing, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations, drew a parallel between cricket and the country’s air defence strategy, using a famous cricket analogy to illustrate India’s robust security measures.
Ghai began by mentioning Virat Kohli’s recent retirement from Test cricket, stating, ‘Like most Indians, he is also one of my favourite cricketers.’ He then delved into a legendary cricket series – the Ashes between England and Australia in the 1970s, where Australian pacers Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee wreaked havoc on the English batting lineup.
‘Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust’
Ghai recalled the iconic phrase associated with the series: ‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don’t get you, Lillee must.’ He connected this to India’s multi-layered air defence system, explaining, ‘Our multi-layered defence grid works the same way. Even if most systems are breached, one will shoot them down before they reach their target.’
He emphasized that despite repeated attempts by the Pakistan Air Force to target Indian airfields on May 9 and 10, India’s multi-layered systems successfully prevented any breaches of critical targets.
The DGMO’s remarks provided a vivid picture of India’s air defence capabilities, highlighting the effectiveness of its layered approach in protecting vital assets.
Other Military Leaders Speak
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai was joined by Vice Admiral AN Pramod (Director General Naval Operations) and Air Marshal AK Bharti (Director General Air Operations) who provided a comprehensive overview of India’s response to Pakistan’s airstrikes during the special briefing.
