Role Of ICC And BCCI In Assigning Number
Wondering how is Jersey Number Assigned to Cricketers or shall we say how your favourite cricketers get their most precious jersey numbers? The catch here is that all cricketers of all countries including India select their jersey or T-shirt on their own. That being said, there is no role of ICC (International Cricket Council) and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in assigning jersey or T-shirt numbers to the cricketers. At present, jersey number 7 is allotted to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 18 is allotted to Virat Kohli, and jersey number 45 to Rohit Sharma.
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Jersey Number In Cricket
In the current scenario of the cricket world, the sport has achieved the status of the second most popular sport followed by football. When a cricket player debuts his career; he/she is given a cap that typically reflects that the player has become a specific number’s player for that country.
Similarly, a cricket player sports a jersey which bears a number on its back side. With the medium of this article you will get to know how the jersey number of the cricket players is assigned.
Role of ICC and BCCI In Assigning Number Of Jersey To Cricket Players
International Cricket Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India play no part in assigning T-shirts or jersey numbers to the cricketers. Not only India, but Cricketers of all countries choose their jersey or T-shirt on their own.
In this context, no guidelines have been issued from the ICC or BCCI and the respective board of the country. But players need to keep in consideration that two players cannot have similar numbers in a playing eleven. Currently, for example, India's Virat Kohli wears jersey number 18.
Jersey Numbers Of Indian Cricketers
You are now aware about how is jersey number assigned in cricket. Next, we will know which player of the Indian cricket team has chosen a specific jersey or T-shirt number and for which reason?
Sachin Tendulkar: 10 NUMBER JERSEY
Known worldwide as the God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar's jersey number that he chose by himself was 10 since it was lucky for him and undoubtedly it turned out to be a fortune number for the player. During an interview, he made a remark that 10 comes in his surname (Tendulkar), so he has chosen 10 numbers for his jersey or t-shirts.
When Sachin Tendulkar retired from cricket, the BCCI released a statement that they want to retire the 10 number jersey or t-shirt also. However, in a match this number was alloted to Shardul Thakur for his debut match.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: 7 NUMBER JERSEY
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s birthday is on 7 July. Keeping that in mind he had chosen the number 7 as his jersey number. It is worth to know that Dhoni also loves football much and to the surprise his favourite player Ronaldo's jersey number is also 7.
Virat Kohli: 18 NUMBER JERSEY
Virat Kohli made a statement in an interview that he considered himself fortunate by wearing jersey number 18. Reasoning it out, he said his dear father died on December 18, 2006, and a date linked with him is all luck for him. India's captain also said in an interview that after wearing an 18 number jersey, he feels as if his father is around and showering his blessings over him. Note that Virat Kohli has been wearing this 18 number jersey since his under-19 days.
Rahul Dravid: 19 NUMBER JERSEY
Rahul Dravid used to wear jersey number 5 in the initial days of his career, but after he got married, he changed the number to 19, since he believed that his wife is very lucky for him and her birthday arrives on the date 19th, and he believes that jersey number 19 help him in revering the birth date of his wife.
Rohit Sharma: 45 NUMBER JERSEY
The jersey number Rohit Sharma had chosen for him is 45 and his number was chosen by his mother. In reality, Rohit’s lucky number was 9 but this number has already been assigned to Parthiv Patel in the team. So he selected 4 + 5 = 9 on his mother's advice. This number turned out to be very lucky for Rohit since at this time he has become the backbone of the Indian cricket team.
Virender Sehwag: 46 NUMBER JERSEY
At the beginning of his career, Sehwag played with jersey number 44 but this number did not show much support for him. Upon the recommendation of the astrologer; Sehwag began wearing jersey number 46 but when this number also did not prove to be lucky for him he began playing without any jersey number.
Hardik Pandya: 228 NUMBER JERSEY
India's cricket team all-rounder Pandya's jersey number is 228. In reality, Hardik Pandya was playing an under-16 match in opposition of Vadodara in which he scored 228 runs in this match to assure a huge victory to his team. Since then, Hardik has worn jersey number 228.
Therefore, considering the above facts, it can be asserted that the number of jersey of the Indian cricket team players is chosen on their own and that there is no role of ICC and BCCI in assigning numbers. It is also believed that there is some sort of supposition or superstition behind the selection of the number and the name inscribed on the jersey of the cricket players. As you must have observed, Dinesh Kartik prefers to write D.K on his jersey. Now we hope that you must have understood about how is jersey number assigned in cricket and how the cricketers choose their jersey number.
Fun Facts
A cricket player from another country can wear the jersey or t-shirt of the same number. That said; remember that a player from another country can wear the jersey or t-shirt of 10 numbers. For example, Pakistan's Afridi wears the jersey number 10.
In football games, the 10 number jerseys are only allotted to the team's best player.
FAQs on How Is Jersey Number Assigned In Cricket AND FUN FACTS
1. How is jersey number assigned in cricket?
There is no standard system, probably because the use of jersey numbers is a relatively new phenomenon in cricket, so there is no history upon which conventions have been built. As you say, well recognized players essentially get to wear whatever they like, another example being Shane Warne who always wears jersey number 23, the same as Michael Jordan wore in Basketball.
A recent newspaper article released that players can choose any number they want, as long as no one else in the team has taken it first. For example, Rohit Sharma wanted the number 10 jersey, but he couldn't have it, since a senior player (guess who? :p Sachin Tendulkar) already has it.
2. Is it compulsory for a cricket player to have a jersey number?
It is also not compulsory for every player to have a jersey number, for example, Virendra Sehwag (in the Indian Jersey - I don't know about IPL).
There are some facts or rumours about those jersey numbers as well. Some people suggest that every number has its special meaning in Numerology such as the number 10 means PERFECT. As a part of cricket is taken in mind, these numbers are chosen by the big cricketing stars on their own just like 333 for Chris Gayle.
