Watch: Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai's cricket analogy to explain India's air defence system, says "Virat Kohli is..."

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations, on Monday gave a cricket analogy to explain how India's air defence systems worked against the Pakistani offensive, adding that Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket today, is one of his favourites.

The DGMO, who is scheduled to talk with his Pakistani counterpart, compared India's air defence system to the old Australian saying "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must", implying that India had layers of defence systems. If one system missed foiling an enemy attack, another system will intercept it.

Ghai said, "Targeting our airfields and logistics is way too tough... I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". 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 ."



AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, talked about how the Indian forces blunted the Pakistan's offensive and reduced damage to both civilian and military infrastructure in the country. He added that Indian Air Defence Systems have a large range of AD sensors and weapon systems.

"This brings me to the point how have Indian Forces managed to minimise the damage to both civilians and military infra in the country, in spite of unrelenting efforts by the Pakistani forces. Most of you and the majority populace within the country have had a lot of say about the layered and integrated air defence systems put in place by the Armed Forces which includes the assets of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. This robust AD system comprises a large variety of multi-layered AD sensors and weapons systems."

Bharti further said that India's older and proven defence systems also stood the test of time to take the opponent's offensive head-on.

"Our battle-proven systems stood the test of time and take them head on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade."