BCCI retired MS Dhoni’s No. 7 jersey
The special No. 7 jersey worn by the former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni will no longer be used by any other Indian player. The decision comes three years after Dhoni retired from international cricket, with the BCCI choosing to honor his significant contributions to the sport since his debut in 2004.
Reportedly, the Indian cricket board informed team members, especially newcomers, that the option to wear the number 7 on their jersey is no longer available as a mark of respect to Dhoni. This follows a similar honor given to legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, whose No. 10 jersey was retired in 2017.
In accordance with ICC rules, players can choose numbers from 1 to 100, but in India, there are limited options due to around 60 numbers being designated to current and potential team members. Even if a player is out of the team for a year, his number is not given to a new player.
For instance, earlier this year, debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal wanted No. 19, but since it was already taken by Dinesh Karthik, he settled for No. 64. In 2017, Shardul Thakur faced criticism for wearing No. 10, associated with Sachin Tendulkar, prompting him to switch to 54 after BCCI intervention.
Popular jersey numbers like 18 (Virat Kohli) and 45 (Rohit Sharma) might also be retired once these cricket superstars decide to retire from the game in the future.
This serves as a small gesture to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of the wicket-keeper batsman MS DHONI , who holds the title of India’s most successful captain in ICC events. Social media is buzzing with numerous memes and posts paying tribute to the iconic No. 7.
In previous statements, Dhoni has disclosed that he picked the number 7 for his jersey simply because it corresponds to his birthdate, which is July 7. This revelation contradicts theories that the number was chosen because it held special luck for him.
The demand for ‘iconic’ numbers extends to the junior levels as well. Back in his U-19 days, the highly promising young batsman, Shubman Gill, faced a challenge securing the coveted No. 7 jersey as it was already in use. Consequently, he opted for No. 77, a number he continues to sport even after progressing to the senior team.
In the realm of cricket, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made the decision to retire the jersey numbers 17 and 333 as a tribute to AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, who have earned a place in the franchise’s Hall of Fame.
What did BCCI official say about Indian jersey numbers?
“At present, 60-odd numbers are designated to the regulars in the Indian team and those in contention. So even if a player is out of the team for about a year or so, we don’t give away his number to a new player. That means a recent debutant has just 30-odd numbers to choose from,” said a BCCI official.
“The young players and current Indian team players have been told not to pick M S Dhoni’s Number 7 jersey. The BCCI has decided to retire Dhoni’s T-shirt for his contribution to the game. A new player can’t get No. 7, and No. 10 was already off the list of available numbers,” said a senior board official.
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