As per reports, former Indian Cricket team captain and legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s iconic No.7 shirt is going to be retired. The multiple ICC trophies holder is one of the greatest captains in the history of cricket and is widely regarded as the greatest Indian captain ever to play the game of cricket.
BCCI took this decision four years after his last game ever for the country, which was the heart-breaking semi-final loss to New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup, and since then, it took him almost a year to announce his retirement in August 2020, which was then followed by the retirement of his long-time teammate and best friend Suresh Raina, who too, decided to hang his boots and down his guard as an international cricketer.
Dhoni has had a trophy-laden career marred by constant criticism throughout his career, but overshadowed by abundance of love his fans have showered over him for years. The Ranchi-born wicketkeeper batsman debuted in 2004 and he never looked back ever since. Since taking over captaincy in 2007, Mahi gave India its most delirious years in cricket for the next decade.
“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,” said a senior Board official told Indian Express.
From going No.1 in Tests, to completing a three-peat of ICC Trophies, Dhoni won it all but more than that, it was his selflessness that won hearts. Pumping in new blood into the team, taking unrealistic calls, batting down the order to let new guys explore and learn, Dhoni has been a true captain and even better teammate and mentor.
Dhoni, if the reports are to be believed, will officially join the legendary Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar as the only Indian cricketer to have his shirt number retired in honour. Sachin wore the iconic number 10 and Dhoni wore 7. Once it gets processed, no player in future will ever be able to wear these iconic shirt numbers for India.