BCCI honours Dhoni by retiring his No. 7 jersey

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BCCI retires M S Dhoni’s legendary No. 7 jersey –

The BCCI has made the decision to retire Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s number seven shirt. Numerous media reports have revealed this. The legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s number 10 jersey was also permanently retired earlier in 2017. The legendary captain of India last took the field against New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal of 2019. On August 15, 2020, he declared his retirement, and no other player has worn the No. 7 jersey since.

Vice-president of the BCCI Rajeev Shukla said that the Board made their choice on Thursday. He is a legendary player. His contribution to Indian as well as world cricket is immense. To honour his contribution, the decision to retire number seven has been taken by the BCCI,” Shukla told PTI.

“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 contributing to the game. A new player can’t get No. 7, and No. 10 was already off the list of available numbers,” a senior Board official told.

“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,” said a BCCI official.

MS Dhoni’s No. 7 Jersey Retired, BCCI Informs Team India Stars: Sources https://t.co/NiQEsqC61u pic.twitter.com/R4pZ4QN7zo

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) December 15, 2023

Yashasvi Jaiswal, 21, selected Number 19 for his India jersey—the same number he previously wore when playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League—just before making his debut for his country. But Jaiswal had to choose a different number (64), since cricketer-turned-commentator Dinesh Karthik was assigned Number 19.

The youthful Shubman Gill desired the Number 7 jersey at the junior level (during the U-19 days), but Gill selected Number 77 instead since MS Dhoni had already been assigned that number. Gill still wearing the Number 77 shirt even after being promoted to the senior side (Indian Team).

A fitting tribute to a legend “Dhoni” –

BCCI honours Dhoni by retiring his No. 7 jersey — Image Source – NDTV Sports

The decision to retire Dhoni’s jersey number is a fitting tribute to a legend who has given so much to Indian cricket. It is also a way of preserving his legacy and honouring his fans, who have supported him throughout his journey. Dhoni is not only a great cricketer, but also a great leader, mentor, and inspiration for many young players. He has shown humility, courage, and passion in every situation, and has always put the team above himself.

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim, who is also the BCCI’s GM of Cricket Operation, has requested the board to retire the jersey number as a gesture of respect. He said, “I think not only MS Dhoni’s jersey, the BCCI must also preserve the jerseys of many other Indian legends. They must also ensure that the jersey number of that legend is not worn by anyone else. In this manner, one can recognize the achievements and the contributions of the greats of Indian cricket. Most importantly, by doing so you give some much-deserved respect to such legends.

Dhoni is a legend who has left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. His jersey number 7 is a symbol of his greatness and glory, and deserves to be retired by the BCCI. It is a way of saying thank you to him, and to his millions of fans, who will always remember him as the captain cool, the finisher, and the Thala.