BCCI Decides to Retire Dhoni’s Jersey Number 7: What it Means for Young Indian Cricketers
In a recent decision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the retirement of the iconic jersey number 7, previously worn by the legendary MS Dhoni. This decision has implications for the future of young Indian cricketers, as they are now discouraged from choosing the number 7 jersey.
The BCCI has explicitly communicated to aspiring young cricketers that they cannot request the iconic number for their jerseys. This move follows a similar retirement decision for Sachin Tendulkar’s number 10 jersey in 2017.
The retirement of Dhoni’s jersey number 7 signifies a significant moment in Indian cricket history. According to BCCI rules, players have the freedom to choose any number between 1 and 100. However, the BCCI has now informed young Indian players that the number 7 jersey is off-limits.
This decision comes three years after Dhoni’s retirement in August 2020. Despite stepping down from international cricket, Dhoni made a symbolic appearance wearing the number 7 jersey during the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester.
MS Dhoni, often referred to as the ‘Captain Cool,’ holds a distinguished place in Indian cricket. He captained the Indian team to victory in all three ICC tournaments in the white-ball format. Dhoni played a pivotal role in India winning the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. Four years later, he led the team to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In 2013, Dhoni guided India to triumph in the Champions Trophy, marking the end of India’s ICC title drought.
The cricketing maestro from Ranchi, who captains the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Dhoni has represented India in 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20 matches, amassing 4876, 10773, and 1617 runs, respectively.
Dhoni also holds the record for the most dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper, with 634 catches and 195 stumpings. His contributions have made him the third-most successful wicketkeeper in the history of the game, after South Africa’s Mark Boucher and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist.
In the wake of retiring jersey numbers, young Indian cricketers now face a limited pool of available numbers. The current system reserves jersey numbers exclusively for retired players. According to a BCCI official, only players who have been retired for approximately a year or more are eligible to have their numbers open for selection.
The decision has left aspiring young cricketers with few alternatives when it comes to choosing their jersey numbers. Currently, around 60 regular and reserve numbers have been assigned within the Indian team. This means that recently debuted players have only a limited pool of numbers to choose from, usually beyond the 30 range.
One notable instance is the case of promising young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who expressed a desire for the number 19 jersey. However, since Dinesh Karthik still uses that number and is yet to retire, Jaiswal had to settle for the number 64.
In conclusion, the retirement of jersey numbers like 7 and 10 marks a significant chapter in Indian cricket. As young talents emerge, they face the challenge of selecting from a restricted range of available numbers. The legacy of players like MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar lives on not just in their on-field achievements but also in the iconic jersey numbers that now find a revered place in cricketing history.
BCCI, MS Dhoni, jersey number 7, retirement, Indian cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dinesh Karthik, ICC tournaments, T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy, cricket history, Chennai Super Kings, IPL.