The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) has made a big decision to retire the No. 7 jersey that Team India players wear. This is a way of honoring MS Dhoni, a cricket legend who wore the No. 7 jersey and led India to win three major championships. Similar to Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10, which became unavailable in 2017, the retirement of the No. 7 jersey holds significance. Both numbers are special, representing the incredible contributions of these cricket maestros.
Dhoni’s Personal Connection with No. 7
MS Dhoni’s decision to wear the No. 7 jersey wasn’t random. He shared in the past that it’s not because his birthday is on July 7 but because that number is his lucky number.
BCCI’s Message to Indian Team
According to the Indian Express, the BCCI has told national team players that they can’t choose jersey numbers 7 and 10. A senior board official explained, “The BCCI decided to retire Dhoni’s T-shirt as a tribute to his contribution to the game. New players can’t have No. 7, and No. 10 was already not available”. For Team India Players, there is a limitation to choosing the Jersey number. But, as a rule, the ICC allows players to pick between 1 and 100. With only about 60 numbers for regular and aspiring Indian team players, getting a preferred jersey number is tough. The BCCI official clarified, “Even if a player is out of the team for about a year, we don’t give his number to a new player. So, a recent debutant has only about 30 numbers to choose from.”
Retiring Jersey numbers is not only happening in cricket but also it is happening as a global practice in sports like football and basketball. Legends like Diego Maradona and Michael Jordan retired their numbers to honor their legacies. In a rare case, Kobe Bryant had two jersey numbers retired in his honor. The BCCI’s decision ensures that these numbers hold a lasting place in cricket history, honoring the profound impact of cricketing icons.
