In a move echoing the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic number 10 jersey, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now decided to permanently retire MS Dhoni’s revered number 7 jersey. This significant decision means that no upcoming Indian cricketer will have the honor of sporting the number 7 jersey in international cricket, marking a departure from the usual practice where players can choose their preferred number.
The BCCI, in an effort to pay tribute to MS Dhoni’s illustrious contribution to Indian cricket, has explicitly communicated to young players that the number 7 jersey is off-limits. This mirrors the action taken in 2017 when Sachin Tendulkar’s number 10 jersey was retired from the available list of numbers. The BCCI official stated that the decision is a recognition of Dhoni’s legacy in the sport.
This significant move comes more than three years after Dhoni’s retirement in August 2020. Despite his last appearance in the number 7 jersey during the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, Dhoni’s impact on Indian cricket remains unparalleled. As the only captain to secure three ICC tournament victories in white-ball cricket, Dhoni led the Indian team to triumph in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, ended a 28-year wait for the ODI World Cup in 2011, and clinched the Champions Trophy in 2013.
While Dhoni continues to showcase his skills for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, this BCCI decision underlines his legendary status. Dhoni’s international career boasts 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20 Internationals, amassing 4876, 10773, and 1617 runs, respectively. Additionally, he holds the record for the most dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper, with 634 catches and 195 stumpings.
Some argue that retiring jersey numbers limits the creative expression of new players and may not be the most effective way to honor legends.
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