Discover the fascinating Cool Nicknames of Indian cricket players. Have you ever wondered what nicknames your favorite cricket players have? Get a comprehensive list of Indian cricket players’ unique aliases. The Indian cricket team holds an idolized status among numerous youngsters. While we may know their names by heart, do we truly know the story behind it? Let’s embark on a journey to uncover the intriguing world of their nicknames.
In India, cricket is not merely a sport; it transcends into a deep-seated passion and a way of life. It has become a religion, celebrated in every street, alley, and rural corner of our nation, as the game of cricket resonates far and wide.
Indian Cricketers Nicknames and How they got it!!
| Player | Nicknames |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Chiku |
| MS Dhoni | Mahi, Captain Cool, MSD, |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Master Blaster, Little Master, Tendlya |
| Rohit Sharma | Hitman, Shaana |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Jaddu, Rockstar |
| Shikhar Dhawan | Gabbar |
| Jasprit Bumrah | JB, Boom Boom Bumrah |
| Hardik Pandya | Pandya, Kung Fu Pandya, Hairy, Rockstar |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | Ash |
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar earned the nickname “Tendu” from his teammates when he debuted for India at the age of 16, owing to his petite frame. The “Little Master” has been passed down to Tendulkar from his predecessor Sunil Gavaskar. Despite their small stature, both batsmen posed a formidable challenge to opposing teams with their exceptional batting skills.
As Tendulkar continued to shatter records and set new ones, he also acquired the nickname “Master Blaster.” This nickname gained popularity, in part, through an advertisement campaign featuring MRF tires.
Tendulkar was bestowed with the nickname “God of Cricket” by Indian fans, a testament to the immense emotional connection and unwavering devotion he inspired among his followers. The adoration he received was fueled by his exceptional performance on the field, where he continuously set and surpassed numerous records throughout his illustrious career.
Sourav Ganguly
“Bengal Tiger,” “Prince of Calcutta,” “Maharaja,” and “God of Off-Side.” Ganguly commanded great respect from his teammates and held the position of captain of the Indian Cricket Team during his tenure. It was his leadership and influence that led his teammates to affectionately address him as “Dada.” The nickname “Maharaja” was bestowed upon him by his parents, and as his cricketing journey progressed, he earned the title of the “Maharaja of Indian cricket.”
Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra team-mate and former India opener Virendra Sehwag often referred to him as ‘Nehra ji.’ During his last international match in Indian colors, fans at the Feroz Shah Kotla brought in hordes of placards with ‘Miss you Nehra JI’.
MS Dhoni, the renowned cricketer, possesses several nicknames such as “Thala,” “Captain Cool,” “Mahi,” and “MSD.” The endearment “Thala” became popular in South India due to the immense adoration Dhoni received in the region. Interestingly, Dhoni revealed that he was initially called “Mahii,” but the name underwent a slight alteration when he joined the Indian team.
Reflecting on his nickname, Dhoni stated, “My nickname is Maahi. It used to be Mahii, but it was half of my full name. However, everybody started calling me Maahi, so I thought it was better off with one name. So I changed it to Maahi.” Additionally, Dhoni is widely recognized as “Captain Cool,” a nickname derived from his composed and unflappable demeanor both on and off the field.
Virat Kohli
Moreover, he sported short hair, and due to that, one of the coaches thought that he looked like Cheeku Rabbit from the Champak comics. So that’s how Virat got his nickname, and it stuck with him from then.
Others like Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja give very straightforward answers. Their respective nicknames – ‘Ajju’ and ‘Jaddu’ are shortened versions of their original names. Also, every family member of Rahane calls him Ajju.
Harbhajan and Suresh Raina
Harbhajan and Suresh Raina both are known as ‘Sonu’ in the dressing room. Everyone got to know about Raina’s nickname when he used to play cricket in his locality during his childhood days. Apparently, during one of these matches, someone called him Sonu, and everybody followed suit.
Harbhajan, on the other hand, confesses that though his original nickname is Sonu, people know him better as ‘Bhajji’. Though he doesn’t know who actually came up with Bhajji, it surely became more popular than Sonu.
Indian cricketers nicknames are also related to how they behave. The usually shy but stylish opener, Rohit Sharma, is the not-so-proud holder of the nickname ‘Shaana’. The name was given to him by Yuvraj as he felt that he was the ‘Shaana’ of the team. Yuvraj himself is known by the name ‘Yuvi’.
During Rohit Sharma’s double century in an ODI, commentator Ravi Shastri exclaimed, “What a way to reach 200! They call him Hitman, and he has truly arrived at the party.” Inspired by Shastri’s words, Indian fans embraced the nickname, referring to Rohit Sharma as the Hitman.
Shikhar Dhawan
Perhaps the only player who is genuinely pleased with his nickname is Ravichandran Ashwin. His nickname ‘Ash’ is a shortened version of his full name and is similar to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s nickname.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya, the swashbuckling all rounder, is known for his style and sense of fashion. Due to his experimental hairstyles, he’s known by the name ‘Hairy’. He says that Raina thinks that he’s the Neymar of India and even Dhoni agrees with that. I’m sure all of us too.
