PM Narendra Modi wishes MI coach Jonty Rhodes on Baby India’s second birthday

Ahead of the local derby against Rising Pune Supergiant, it’s a relaxed mood in the Mumbai Indians camp with Jonty Rhodes’ daughter and Sachin Tendulkar celebrating their birthdays on consecutive days

Former South Africa international and Mumbai Indians fielding coach Jonty Rhodes took to Twitter on Sunday to mark his daughter’s birthday as he posted an adorable picture of him and his two-year-old with a caption that read: “Happy Birthday baby India; 2 today #landofyourbirth”.

Mumbai Indians fielding coach Jonty Rhodes and his wife Melanie had named their daughter India Jeanne Rhodes back in 2015 stating that the country’s rich heritage and culture had prompted them their daughter after the country (Twitter)

There were a number of replies and wishes for India on Twitter, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Happy birthday to India, from India. :)”, Narendra Modi stated while quoting Rhodes’ tweet.

Jonty Rhodes is also the fielding coach of Mumbai Indians, who have a crucial fixture at home on Monday as they take on Rising Pune Supergiant, the only side to have defeated them in the IPL this season.

Billed as the local derby between the two Maharashtra teams, the pressure to continue winning streak will be on Mumbai Indians at Wankhede when Steve Smith’s men try to replicate their glory once again.

Apart from that, it will be a special match for Mumbai Indians for a different reason as well. It’s the birthday of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

While fans across the globe have wished Sachin Tendulkar in their own very manner, the best gift for the former batsman would perhaps be a victory for the men-in-blue (Mumbai Indians also wear blue).

They’ve played twice on his birthday in the last nine editions — in 2011 against the defunct Deccan Chargers and in 2013 against Kolkata Knight Riders. And they won on both the occasions.