Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Saina Nehwal, PT Usha visit Ayodhya for Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha - videos and pictures

From cricketing legends to sporting dignitaries, the sportspersons invited, and ones that attended the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya is a lengthy one. Former India captain Virat Kohli, who received permission from the BCCI to attend the auspicious event, arrived in the ancient city in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Kohli was in Hyderabad with the rest of the Indian team in preparation for the first Test against England that gets underway on 25 January. The star batter was spotted arriving in Ayodhya early in the morning. Later in the day, BCCI announced that he had opted out of the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons.

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Meanwhile, allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, also part of the squad to face England, made the trip to Ayodhya.

Former India captain MS Dhoni's wife Sakshi posted an Instagram story seemingly from inside the premises.

Ex-India cricketer and icon Sachin Tendulkar departed from Mumbai on Sunday evening as he made his way to Uttar Pradesh. He was then spotted wearing the traditional attire accorded to all attendees in Ayodhya.

Former India cricketer and coach Anil Kumble arrived in Lucknow on Sunday and then proceeded to Ayodhya from UP's capital. As did his one-time teammate Venkatesh Pradesh.

Legendary athlete and current Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, PT Usha, has also arrived in Lord Ram's city and shared pictures from the banks of River Sarayu.

"Experienced tranquillity and divine peace at the banks of the Sarayu river. The river stands testimony to the history of Ayodhya and Lord Ram, blessing the people even today with her riches," PT Usha wrote on X.

2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal posted a photo on X, with the caption, "Jai Shree Ram 🙏🙏 #ayodhyamandir".

Cricketer Ajinkya Rahane wrote on Instagram, "May we be blessed with divine grace today and always..."

The who's who of Indian sport had been invited for the event in Ayodhya. 1983 World cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, 'Little Master' Sunil Gavaskar, explosive former batter Virender Sehwag, and current head coach Rahul Dravid had been expected to join in on the proceedings.

The invitation extended beyond the cricketing field, encompassing the likes of chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, weightlifter Karnam Malleswari, former footballer and current AIFF president Kalyan Chaube, long-distance runner Kavita Raut Tungar, paralympian Devendra Jhajharia, cricketer Mithali Raj, shuttler PV Sindhu, and legendary Pullela Gopichand.