The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a significant decision to retire the iconic No. 7 jersey worn by former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This move, coming three years after Dhoni’s international retirement, serves as a symbolic gesture, expressing respect for the cricketer’s legacy and acknowledging his unparalleled influence on Indian cricket.
Dhoni, who bid farewell to the game after an illustrious career, led India to victory in all three white-ball ICC tournaments—T20 World Cup 2007, ODI World Cup 2011, and Champions Trophy 2013—while donning the No. 7 jersey. The retirement of his number underscores the profound impact he had on the sport, ensuring that future generations will forever associate the No. 7 with Dhoni’s exceptional achievements and leadership on the field.
This move by the BCCI mirrors a similar tribute paid to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in 2017 when his iconic No. 10 jersey was retired. The board has communicated to current national team players, especially debutants, that jersey numbers associated with Tendulkar and Dhoni are off-limits.
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A senior BCCI official stated, “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.”
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While the International Cricket Council generally allows players to choose jersey numbers from 1 to 100, India imposes restrictions on available options. Currently, around 60 numbers are designated to regular and potential team members. Even if a player is out of the team for a brief period, his number is not given to a new player, leaving limited options for recent debutants.
The BCCI’s decision to retire jersey numbers is a powerful and meaningful gesture, reminiscent of similar actions in other sports. Notably, football icon Diego Maradona and basketball legend Michael Jordan had their jersey numbers retired to immortalize their exceptional contributions to their respective sports.
Retiring jersey numbers stand as a lasting tribute, ensuring that the impact of these legendary athletes remains etched in the history of the game.
-IANS
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