In today’s world, cricket is recognized as the second most popular sport after football. When a player debuts, they receive a cap, signifying their unique number for that country.
Similarly, cricketers wear jerseys with numbers on the back. This article explains how jersey numbers are assigned to cricket players.
Role of ICC and BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have no role in assigning jersey or T-shirt numbers to cricketers. Players from all countries, including India, choose their jersey numbers.
No official guidelines have been issued by the ICC or national boards regarding this matter. However, players must remember that no two players in a playing eleven can have the same number. Currently, India’s Virat Kohli wears jersey number 18, MS Dhoni wears number 7, and Rohit Sharma wears number 45.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar chose jersey number 10 because he considered it lucky and felt it represented his surname, “Tendulkar.” In an interview, he explained that the number 10 was significant to him.
After his retirement, the BCCI expressed a desire to retire the number 10 jersey. However, it was later assigned to Shardul Thakur for his debut match. It’s important to note that players from other countries can wear the number 10 jersey; for instance, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi also wore it. Notably, in football, the number 10 jersey is typically assigned to the team’s best player.
2. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli revealed in an interview that he considers jersey number 18 to be lucky for him because his father passed away on December 18, 2006. He shared that wearing the number reminds him of his father’s presence. Kohli has worn this jersey number since his under-19 days, making it a significant part of his cricketing journey.
3. MS Dhoni
Dhoni chose the number 7 as his jersey number because his birthday is on July 7. Additionally, he is a big fan of football, and his favorite player, Cristiano Ronaldo, also wears the number 7. This connection adds personal significance to Dhoni’s choice of jersey number throughout his cricket career.
4. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid initially wore the jersey number 5 in the early days of his career. However, after his marriage, he changed it to 19, believing it brought him luck. This change was influenced by his wife’s birthday, which falls on the 19th, helping him remember this special date.
5. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma wears jersey number 45, chosen by his mother. Although his lucky number is 9, already assigned to Parthiv Patel, he opted for 4 + 5 = 9 based on her suggestion. This number has proven lucky for Rohit, as he has become a key player for the Indian cricket team.
6. Virender Sehwag
In the early days of his career, Virender Sehwag wore jersey number 44, but it didn’t bring him luck. Following an astrologer’s advice, he switched to number 46, which also failed to support him. Eventually, Sehwag opted to play without any jersey number at all.
7. Hardik Pandya
Team India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya wears jersey number 228. This number is significant because he scored 228 runs in an under-16 match against Vadodara, leading his team to a decisive victory. Since then, Pandya has proudly continued to don the number 228 on his jersey.
