The BCCI has made waves with their decision to retire MS Dhoni’s number seven shirt.
The previous team leader, originally from Ranchi, Jharkhand, stands among the most impactful players ever in cricket.
His unconventional method irritated purists when he initially appeared on the world scene, but by the time he retired, they had become his supporters.
Dhoni’s wicket-keeping and batting abilities were on par with his leadership talents, which he used to lead India to three major white-ball titles.
The 42-year-old cricket legend has retired from international matches, yet persists in playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the exhilarating Indian Premier League.
The cricket board has already made the decision to retire a jersey number. We’ve compiled a list of five occasions when cricket boards made this decision.
1. Phillip Hughes – 64
The number 64 jersey, which was retired by Cricket Australia in commemoration of the late Phillip Hughes, is perhaps the most heartbreaking of all on this list.
In a 2014 Sheffield Shield game, the southpaw was hit in the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbott of New South Wales, and he passed away from his wounds.
As a mark of respect for one of Australia’s most promising batsmen in recent memory, the cricket board opted to retire Hughes’ shirt.
Hughes has been gone from us for nine years, and he is sorely missed.
2. MS Dhoni – 7
Of all cricket boards, the BCCI was obviously the last to retire former captain MS Dhoni’s number seven shirt.
The legendary MS Dhoni has led India to triumph in the 20-over World Cup, 50-over World Cup, and ICC Champions Trophy competitions. His trophy case gleams with the highest honors in the sport.
In all game types, MS Dhoni is by far the most successful captain the nation has ever had.
MS Dhoni leadership talents were on par with his great batting and wicketkeeping ability, and no finer player could have been recognized in this manner.
3. Sachin Tendulkar – 10
The BCCI has chosen to retire jerseys other than Dhoni’s. When it did the same to Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10, it made news in 2017.
Tendulkar is widely regarded as the best hitter to have ever lived, with a record of a hundred centuries in international cricket.
4. Daniel Vettori – 11
In 2019, New Zealand Cricket decided to retire the No. 11 shirt worn by the famous Daniel Vettori.
Donning spectacles, Vettori spun into the record books as one of cricket’s best left-arm bowlers. His 297 ODI wickets and 2253 runs reveal stellar all-around skills.
For the BlackCaps, Vettori participated in 291 ODIs and claimed 297 wickets. The southpaw was a more than respectable batter who scored 2253 runs in them.
The talented player has attained a rare double – taking over 300 wickets and scoring above 4000 runs in Test matches. He is one of only three players to ever attain this significant achievement across 362 wickets and 4531 runs.
5. Brendon McCullum – 42
Another New Zealand cricketer whose jersey has been retired is Brendon McCullum.
McCullum wore the number 42 on his back, and New Zealand retired it in his honor.
For those who are unaware, McCullum, often known as ‘Baz,’ was one of New Zealand’s most prominent captains in the past, with his new-found attitude to being proactive and aggressive even in red-ball cricket.
He has also reinvented himself as England’s red-ball coach, gaining international acclaim for the team’s ‘Bazball’ brand of cricket.