India is celebrating its 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday and cricketers up and down the country have taken to social networking sites to wish the nation.

For all Indians Independence Day is a day to remember the people who fought the Britishers and gave up their lives to free the countrymen from the clutches of the foreigners.  India’s freedom struggle was a hard-fought one and is celebrated every year with great pomp and grandeur to commemorate the special day.

Parades are held in all state capitals and district headquarters to celebrate Independence Day. Indians across the country also hoist the tricolour to mark the day.  On Independence Day, the Prime Minister greets the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi.

And as the country celebrates another year of Independence, the cricketers took to Twitter to wish the nation.

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar led the way, tweeting:

“Everything in life is hard-earned. Just like our independence. Among countless other things, there would have been no ‘Team India’ if not for the sacrifice of our brave freedom fighters. Let us not take that freedom for granted. #HappyIndependenceDay.” 

Other cricketers, past and present, soon followed suit.

“Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind,” wrote Kumble.

There were wishes from cricketers of other countries:

Shahid Afridi led the wishes from the other side of the border, tweeting:

“Happy Independence Day to #India, our neighbors across the border. I sincerely hope that from this year onwards, both Pakistan and India work towards resolving their issues for a better, peaceful and prosperous region where India Pak cricket matches can also be frequently held.”