Operation Sindoor: When Army DGMO talked about Kohli, Lillee-Thomson combo

The Indian Army on Monday (May 12) used a cricket analogy involving Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee to describe the country’s defence air system during Operation Sindoor, on a day when Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket.

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Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army, addressing a special press briefing in New Delhi, said he could talk about cricket since it was a day when Kohli bid adieu to the longest format of the game.

'Kohli my favourite cricketer'

Lt Gen Ghai said Kohli is his favourite cricketer and went on to narrate a story from the 1970s when Australia and England were involved in the Ashes Test series. He compared the Indian air defence system to the Australian fast bowling duo of Thomson and Lillee, who tormented the English batters at the time.

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“Since Virat Kohli retired today, we can talk about cricket and since he is my favourite cricketer too like other Indians. I remember an incident when I was in school in the 70s. There was a match between England and Australia. At that time, two fast bowlers of Australia – Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee destroyed the English batting line-up. At that time, Australians coined a proverb – 'from ashes to ashes, and from dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, then Lillee surely must’,” Lt Gen Ghai said.

He added, “If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you.”

India's robust air defence system

At the press briefing, Director General of Air Operations, IAF, Air Marshal AK Bharti said India’s robust air defence system effectively thwarted Pakistani attempts to target Indian installations.

Another highlight was the stellar performance of indigenous air defence weapons like the Akash system, he said.

The Integrated Air Command and Control system thwarted Pakistan's military offensives.

“Our fight was against terror infrastructure and terrorists, but the Pakistan military chose to support terrorists and widened the conflict,” he said.