Stories Behind India Cricket Player's jersey

No conversation about Cricket in India can start without mentioning the fact that India is a nation that worships cricket and certainly idolizes the cricketers. If we start taking surveys of which is the most loved game in India, the statistical compass would easily point towards, cricket. India is a nation that records the highest number of cricket viewers.  In 2017, the India Vs Australia test series became the most watches test series in history of India television with 1.1 billion gross expressions throughout the series and the 3rd test having 383 million expressions and whole test series having averaging 282 expressions per match. Even in case of fantasy sports, fantasy cricket tops the list with maximum users compared to other sports. As recorded in various statistical records the number of users who play fantasy cricket are approximately 20 million in 2018 in contrast to 2 million in 2017. Needless to speak, the number is still growing with experts speculating a user number of 100 million by 2019.  

So, when so much is at stake, when millions of fans are rooting for you and your team, it becomes mandatory for you to perform well and like most of us, the cricketers too have their own little beliefs in jinxes. Remember how we used to take our lucky pen or wear our lucky shirt to school during the exams. In a similar fashion the cricketers too need their good luck charms in the field where they represent their nation in a global sporting arena.   

Numbers are more than the name of any cricketer and behind each jersey number is a story that is worth telling. 

                                                                  

MS Dhoni 

MS Dhoni or Mahi, as lovingly called by his fans, should start the list. He Probably is the most successful captain as he led his team into winning the world title, not once but twice.  

As for his jersey number, Dhoni chose 7 as the number as it is basically his birth date, since he was born on 7th of July. Also, the number was inspired from the jersey numbers of the greatest players of Manchester United George Best and Christiano Ronaldo. Needless to say, MU is his favourite football team and Dhoni himself played football for his school football team.  

Virat Kohli 

Kohli aka the ‘run machine’ also has a story behind his jersey number. Unfortunately, his story is more emotional than others as it associates with his father’s death. On 18 December 2006, Kohli’s father passed away when he was only 18 and since then his jersey number is 18.  

Yuvraj Singh 

Yuvraj was born on the 12th day of the 12th month of the year and his residence was in Sector 12 of Chandigarh. Needless to mention, this is the reason enough to make 12 his jersey number.  

Sachin Tendulkar 

The God of Cricket started his career with a different number and changed it soon when suggested by his astrologer. Sachin Tendulkar at the onset of his career used to wear a jersey number of 99. Things were not quite looking up of the master blaster whose astrologer then suggested him to change his number to 10. There was no looking back after that.  

  

Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid is decent man who loves his wife. However, unlike others he proved it through his jersey. His jersey number of 19 is the day his wife Vijeta Pendharkar was born.  

Shikhar Dhawan 

The ‘Gabbar’ of the Indian Cricket Team adopted 25 as his jersey number after his daughter’s birthday. 

Rohit Sharma 

Rohit Sharma’s mother suggested the number 45 as his jersey number. Moms are never wrong!