"We are stronger when we stand united. I will be lighting a candle tonight at 9pm for 9 minutes. Are you with me?" he asked referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to light candles, torches or phone flashes at 9 p.m. for 9 mins.

 

"On this great day of solidarity, I pledge Rs. 50 Lakhs to the PMCaresFunds. Please do your bit too!," Yuvraj wrote on his Twitter handle.

 

Modi on Friday spoke to 49 sports personalities that included the likes of BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, badminton world champion P.V. Sindhu and chess legend Viswanathan Anand as he urged them to keep spreading awareness as the world fights the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The pandemic has put the whole world on pause and sporting events across the globe have either been cancelled or suspended and even the fate of the 13th edition of the IPL hangs in the balance with the BCCI now also open to shifting the tournament to the October-November window if the ICC does plan to postpone the World T20.

 

Earlier in the day, India's limited overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma compared the fight against COVID-19 with a Test match, saying our lives depend on winning this match. On Saturday, India batsman K.L. Rahul and fit-again allrounder Hardik Pandya extended support to the Prime Minister 's appeal to Indians to light candles, torches or phone flashes.

 

India captain Virat Kohli also urged people to show their support in difficult times by lighting candles at 9 pm.