BCCI Retires MS Dhoni’s No. 7 Jersey, Pledges It Won’t Be Handed Over to Another Cricketer
Written by Sanjay Kumar
In a move that pays tribute to the legendary career of former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially retired his iconic No. 7 jersey, as reported by the Indian Express. This decision follows Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket three years ago, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket.
The BCCI, known for recognizing the contributions of cricketing icons, had previously retired Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 jersey in 2017. This practice of retiring jersey numbers is a common tradition in sports, signifying the exceptional achievements and impact of revered players.
Newcomers to the Indian cricket team have been informed by the BCCI about the unavailability of jersey numbers 7 and 10, which were worn by Dhoni and Tendulkar, respectively. A senior Board official emphasized the importance of preserving the legacy of these cricketing legends, stating that even if a player is out of the team for some time, their number is not given to a new player.
“At present, 60-odd numbers are designated to the regulars in the Indian team and those in contention. So even if a player is out of the team for about a year or so, we don’t give away his number to a new player. That means a recent debutant has just 30-odd numbers to choose from,” explained a BCCI official.
The gesture of retiring jersey numbers extends beyond cricket, with various sports organizations worldwide adopting a similar practice. Italian football club Napoli retired the No. 10 jersey in honor of Diego Maradona, while the Chicago Bulls retired the No. 23 jersey for basketball legend Michael Jordan. Major League Baseball (MLB) universally retired Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 in 1997, recognizing the first African-American player in the league.
In 1999, the National Hockey League (NHL) retired Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99, acknowledging his unparalleled achievements and impact on the sport. Similarly, the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Commission retired Muhammad Ali’s No. 3 in 2007, paying homage to the boxing legend’s greatness and his influential role in advocating for social justice.
The retirement of MS Dhoni’s No. 7 jersey by the BCCI symbolizes the indelible mark he left on Indian cricket and underscores the significance of honoring sporting icons for their extraordinary contributions to the game.
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