India, April 6 -- Indian PM Narendra Modi appreciated the 1996 Sri Lankan World Cup winning squad and said the evolution of T20 cricket can be traced back to the innovative playing style demonstrated by the team.

He made the remarks while meeting the winning squad in Colombo during his just-concluded visit to the neighbouring nation.

He highlighted the transformative impact of India's 1983 World Cup victory and the 1996 World Cup win by the Sri Lankan team, emphasizing how these milestones reshaped the cricketing world.

Recounting India's decision to participate in Sri Lanka despite the 1996 bomb blasts that led other teams to withdraw, Modi highlighted the appreciation shown by Sri Lankan players for India's solidarity during their di...