The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will reportedly retire MS Dhoni's iconic No. 7 jersey, as a tribute to the World Cup-winning captain's significant contributions to the sport.
This decision follows a similar gesture made in 2017 when Sachin Tendulkar's No. 10 jersey was retired.
New players, especially debutants, have been informed that they are not allowed to choose numbers associated with either Tendulkar or Dhoni. The retirement of these legendary players' numbers is a symbolic acknowledgement of their impact on Indian cricket.
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What did BCCI say?
“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 to Indian Express.
The tradition of retiring jersey numbers in sports is a poignant way to honour legendary players and acknowledge their lasting impact. In football, Napoli's No. 10 remains unassigned since Diego Maradona's era, symbolizing his extraordinary contributions to the club's success.
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This tradition even extends to the junior strata of Indian cricket, where young talents, such as Shubman Gill, faced challenges in securing their preferred numbers due to their iconic status.
For instance, Gill, unable to get No. 7 during his U-19 days, opted for No. 77, a number he continues to wear in the senior team.
This practice ensures that the legacies of cricketing icons are preserved, and their jersey numbers remain symbolic of their remarkable careers.
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