Retired Jersey Numbers: In a recent move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to retire the jersey of former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Countries often find meaningful ways to honour and show respect to exceptional cricket stars who have made significant contributions to the sport. One such gesture is the retirement of jersey numbers, a symbolic act to preserve the legacies of these cricket legends. This practice signifies that no other player from that country will wear the retired number, paying tribute to the greatness of the player who once proudly donned it throughout their career.
In a recent move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to retire the jersey of former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. As a tribute to the legendary wicketkeeper-batter, the iconic No. 7 jersey that Dhoni famously wore will not be assigned to any other cricketer in the country. This follows a previous decision by the BCCI to retire jersey No. 10, which was donned by the cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Other countries have also participated in this tradition, with Australia retiring the jersey number of Phillip Hughes, and New Zealand honouring Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum in a similar manner. Additionally, former Nepal captain Paras Khadka had his jersey number (77) retired as well, underlining the global significance of this gesture in recognizing and celebrating cricketing excellence.
Here’s all cricket jerseys that have been retired by respective cricket boards:
1 Retired Jersey Numbers: MS Dhoni (IND)- 7
MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020, but he continues to play in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings, wearing the iconic No. 7 jersey. Known for his explosive batting, exceptional wicket-keeping, and leadership skills, Dhoni led Team India to three white-ball ICC titles- the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013, the most by any other captain.
2 Retired Jersey Numbers: Sachin Tendulkar (IND)- 10
Sachin Tendulkar, widely considered one of the greatest batters of all time, saw his No. 10 jersey retired by the BCCI in 2017 as a tribute to his remarkable career. The ‘Master Blaster’ holds the record for the highest run-scorer in both ODIs and Test cricket, with over 18,000 and 15,000 runs, respectively.
3 Phillip Hughes (AUS) – 64
Retired Jersey Numbers: The tragic passing of Phillip Hughes led Cricket Australia to retire his ODI shirt number, 64, in 2014. Hughes, a promising talent, lost his life after being struck by a Sean Abbott bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales, leaving a lasting impact on the cricketing community.
4 Stephen Fleming (NZ)- 7
Retired Jersey Numbers: Stephen Fleming, a legendary batter for the New Zealand national cricket team, had his No. 7 jersey retired as an honour of his contributions. Under his captaincy, the Kiwis clinched the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy.
5 Daniel Vettori (NZ) – 11
Retired Jersey Numbers: Daniel Vettori, an exceptional left-arm spinner, had his No. 11 jersey retired by New Zealand Cricket in 2019. Vettori was known for his mastery of spin. He has provided significant contributions to the national side as both a bowler and a batter.
6 Brendon McCullum (NZ) – 42
Retired Jersey Numbers: Brendon McCullum’s No. 42 was retired after his illustrious career, marked by quick scoring and successful captaincy. He led New Zealand to the finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
7 Chris Harris (NZ) – 5
Retired Jersey Numbers: Chris Harris, a left-handed middle-order batter and right-arm slow-medium bowler, played a crucial role in rescuing New Zealand’s batting on multiple occasions. He was a member of the team that won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy. His No. 5 jersey is also retired.
8 Nathan Astle (NZ) – 9
Nathan Astle, New Zealand’s fourth-highest run-scorer as of 2022, holds records for the fastest double century in Test cricket and the second-highest individual score in the fourth innings of a Test match. His No. 9 jersey is among those retired.
9 Chris Cairns (NZ) – 6
Chris Cairns, a former New Zealand ODI captain had his No. 6 jersey retired. Cairns, who was regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders, played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s triumph in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy.
10 Paras Khadka (NEP) – 77
Paras Khadka, former captain of Nepal, saw his No. 77 jersey retired by the Nepal Cricket Association in recognition of his contributions. Khadka retired from international cricket in 2021, having represented the country in 10 ODIs and 33 T20Is.