Several West Indian cricketing legends are now batting for India after lakhs of 'Made-in-India' Covid-19 vaccines continue to land in the Caribbean, equipping several countries in the region to fight the timeless test against the pandemic.

"I would like to thank India for the wonderful contribution made to our country which is the vaccine. We thank you so much on behalf of the Antiguan and Barbudan people. We look forward, also that in the future, continued relationship. Thank you very much Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the High Commission of India. We also thank all of the people in India for such a kind gesture," said Vivian Richards, one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

Richards is a native of Antigua and Barbuda which had received over 175,000 Covid-19 vaccines – 40,000 of them under the 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative – as part of a donation made by the Indian government to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Suriname.

India started external supplies of Made in India vaccines on January 20 and has till March 12, supplied nearly 5.86 crore vaccines to 74 nations across geographies besides inoculating crores of people at home. By delivering Covid vaccine within days of its rollout, India had once again demonstrated its willingness and ability to act as a first responder to crises in the world.

West Indies cricketing greats @ivivianrichards @RichieRich2000 #jimmyadams #ramnareshsarwan thank #India @PMOIndia @narendramodi for donation of #MadeInIndia @SerumInstIndia #CovishieldVaccine to #Antigua #Guyana @CARICOMorg @AntiguaOpm @OPTGY @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @drkjsrini pic.twitter.com/olM3FItD0N

— India in Guyana (@IndiainGuyana) March 13, 2021

The 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative first began in the immediate neighbourhood, starting with the Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles. The extended neighbourhood followed thereafter, including the countries in the Gulf. Supplying smaller and more vulnerable nations remained on India's agenda as it reached out to regions from Africa to the CARICOM, a grouping of Caribbean countries.

As 'pharmacy of the world', India has time and again showcased its vaccine internationalism and provided a healing hand to the world recovering from Covid-19. The supplies are being undertaken in the form of grant, commercial sales by the manufacturers and through the vaccine alliance. The government has made it clear that it will continue in weeks and months ahead, in a phased manner, depending on production and needs of the national vaccination programme.

The Government of India has announced a total donation of 570,000 doses to the CARICOM region. Another cricketing great, Richie Richardson was also effusive in his praise for India's stunning initiative.

"On behalf of the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, I would like to thank the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for his kind generosity in offering us 40,000 vaccines. We are extremely grateful to you and your country. Thank you very very much," said the former West Indies captain.

In Jamaica's Kingston, country's Prime Minister Andrew Holness had personally received over 50,000 doses of Indian covid vaccine at the Norman Manley International Airport, earlier this month. He isn't the only expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

Legendary Jamaican & WI Cricketer @henrygayle thanks PM @narendramodi, the People and Government of #India for the gift of #MadeInIndia Vaccine to #Jamaica#VaccineMaitri @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/fLBbhF5zTY

— India in Jamaica (@hcikingston) March 19, 2021

Swashbuckling left-handed West Indies batsman Chris Gayle also thanked PM Modi and India for helping Jamaica in these challenging times.

"Honourable Prime Minister Modi, people of India and Government of India, I want to thank you for the donation of vaccine to Jamaica. We appreciate it, thank you so much. India I will be seeing you soon and thanks once again," Gayle said in a video posted by the High Commission of India in Jamaica, yesterday.

Yet another Jamaican big hitter Andre Russell, who would be on flight with Gayle to India later this month for the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, had also thanked India for helping the Caribbean community.

"I just want to say a big, big, big thank you to Prime Minister Modi and the India High Commission. The vaccines are here and we are excited. I would love to see the world going back to normal. Jamaica people really appreciate it and just to show that we are more than close, India and Jamaica are now brothers. I appreciate it and stay safe over there. Peace," Russell had said earlier this week.

Besides Antigua and Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica and several other Caribbean countries have also received the India-made vaccines under the Vaccine Maitri initiative.

"I just want to use this opportunity to say thank you to the Government of India for the support that they are giving to the people all across the region in donating vaccines. I know that my own home country of Jamaica is benefitting from this initiative and also Antigua where I'm currently working with Cricket West Indies. We are all deeply grateful to the Government of India and on behalf of the people in the Caribbean I would like to thank you for this great initiative," said former West Indies wicketkepper Jimmy Adams who is currently working as Director of Cricket with Cricket West Indies (CWI).

Much before supplying covid vaccines to the world, India had ramped up its pharmaceutical production – especially of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol – to respond to growing global demands. The Indian government had provided life-saving medicines and medical supplies to the Caribbean countries as a gesture of goodwill in support of its fight against Covid-19.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prime Minister Modi for providing the Covid-19 vaccine for us here in Guyana. We really appreciate your kindness sir, thank you so much," said Ramnaresh Sarwan.

'I want to say a big thank you to PM @narendramodi & @hcikingston. The #COVID19 Vaccines are here & we are excited.' @PMOIndia

'#India & #Jamaica – We are more than close, we are now brothers'.

WI Cricketer Andre Russell praises #VaccineMaitri @Russell12A @DrSJaishankar pic.twitter.com/LhGi5OQeED

— India in Jamaica (@hcikingston) March 16, 2021

Guyana, which has a strong presence of Indian diaspora and PIO among Guyanese, had earlier this month received the Indian gift of 80,000 doses of 'Made-in-India' Covishiled vaccines.

Speaking on the Vaccine Maitri Initiative in Rajya Sabha this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that in the last few years, India has developed a reputation of being the first and reliable responder in the region whether it is critical negotiations of global importance like the Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance or the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

He emphasized that that from Africa to the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands, the message has been clear that the Prime Minister of India not only has the willingness to engage them personally, but to back that up with concrete development programmes – an outlook of human-centric global cooperation that is the driving force of Vaccine Maitri.

"Those sentiments have naturally been expressed by leaders and prominent personalities of many nations. But more than that, our Ambassadors feel every day the warmth of ordinary people across the world for India. In the truest sense, this has been people-centric diplomacy at work. The world sees not just the selfless outlook of India but also of the quality of our products and capabilities. The Covid pandemic has been a test of fire for all of us. But I can confidently state that even in the midst of a global crisis, the Prime Minister’s initiative of such deep friendship has raised India’s standing and generated great international goodwill for us," said Jaishankar.

Special message of gratitude to India & Hon @PMOIndia @narendramodi by Hon. Brig. (Retd.) Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of #Guyana for the Indian made #CovishieldVaccine donated by India to Guyana @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @drkjsrini @OPTGY @mfaguyana @newsroomgy @iNewsGuyana pic.twitter.com/eEJv2df3oT

— India in Guyana (@IndiainGuyana) March 12, 2021