In a poignant tribute to the legendary Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to retire the iconic No. 7 jersey that adorned the captain during his illustrious 15-year international career. Following in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 jersey, Dhoni’s No. 7 will now be enshrined in cricket history, unavailable for any future Indian cricketer to don.
Under Thala’s leadership, India achieved unparalleled success in the cricketing world, clinching the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. His remarkable contributions extended beyond the limited-overs formats, guiding the team to Test series victories and earning a couple of prestigious Test maces.
According to a report in the Indian Express, more than three years after Dhoni bid farewell to international cricket, the BCCI has “officially” decided the retirement of the No. 7 jersey as a fitting acknowledgment of his indelible impact on the sport. The decision has been communicated to the current national team players, with a specific directive to debutants that jersey numbers associated with cricketing legends “The God” and “Thala” are off-limits.
A senior official from the Board emphasized the significance of this gesture, stating, “The young players and current Indian team members have been explicitly instructed not to choose MS Dhoni’s Number 7 jersey. The Board has opted to retire Dhoni’s jersey as a mark of respect for his exceptional contribution to the game. As it stands, a new player can no longer lay claim to the revered No. 7, and No. 10 was already removed from the list of available numbers back in 2017.”
This move follows BCCI’s earlier decision to retire Tendulkar’s iconic No. 10 jersey in 2017, further solidifying the tradition of preserving jersey numbers associated with cricketing legends. As the cricketing fraternity reflects on Dhoni’s impact on the field, the retirement of his No. 7 jersey stands as a lasting tribute to one of the greatest captains in the history of the sport.
BCCI Jersey Retirement limits options for Players
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) recent decision to retire MS Dhoni’s iconic No. 7 jersey has stirred discussions about the limitations it imposes on the jersey number choices for Team India players. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) typically permits players to select any number between 1 and 100, the options for Indian players are significantly constrained.
A Board official shed light on the current scenario, stating, “At present, 60-odd numbers are designated for 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.”
This policy raises questions about the feasibility of providing ample choices to players, especially those making their debut, and the potential impact on their sense of individuality within the team.
The BCCI had previously retired Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 jersey in 2017, following an incident where Shardul Thakur wore the iconic number during an international match and faced significant online backlash. In response, the Board intervened, leading to Thakur switching to No. 54.
Currently, Virat Kohli dons the No. 18 jersey, while Rohit Sharma sports No. 45. These numbers have become synonymous with the batting legends, and the BCCI’s recent move has raised speculation about the potential retirement of their jerseys in the future.