MS Dhoni’s Jersey Number 7 Retired in Honour of Two Times World Cup Winning Captain
A name etched in Indian cricket’s history, unlikely to be forgotten or replicated anytime soon, is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He revolutionized Indian cricket, propelling it to a level where wins in major tournaments became the norm. Now in honour to the great man, BCCI has decided to retire MS Dhoni’s Number 7 jersey.
Recognizing his immense contribution, the BCCI has made a decision sure to excite Dhoni fans: jersey number 7 will be retired, meaning no future player will wear it. This makes Dhoni the second Indian player to receive this honor, following Sachin Tendulkar’s jersey number 10 retirement in 2017.
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Talking about the matter, a BCCI official was quoted by the Indian Express, “The young players and current Indian team players have been told not to pick M S Dhoni’s Number 7 jersey. The BCCI has decided to retire Dhoni’s T-shirt for his contribution to the game. A new player can’t get No. 7, and No. 10 was already off the list of available numbers.”
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, was legendary for his finishing prowess in ODIs. Across 297 innings, he amassed 10,773 runs at an average exceeding 50. But his impact went beyond mere runs; he single-handedly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on numerous occasions, earning him the title of the world’s best finisher.
“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,” A BCCI official added to the matter.
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Although he formally retired in 2020, Dhoni’s last international match was in 2019, a tense World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester that ended in a heartbreaking loss for India.
The BCCI had previously retired a jersey number for another legend, the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. In 2017, his jersey number 10 was permanently retired, ensuring its exclusivity and honoring his unparalleled contribution to the sport.
Speaking of Dhoni, while he’s stepped back from international cricket, he continues to enthrall us in the IPL. Even at 42, he’s captaining his beloved Chennai Super Kings, ready to take charge once again.
