The Indian Cricket Team’s jersey is far more than mere attire; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with the threads of national pride, a rich legacy, and an unbridled passion for the sport. The enduring choice of blue, a color that mirrors the expansive sky and the deep ocean, echoes the Ashoka Chakra on the Indian flag, a deliberate decision to transcend any religious or political connotations.
A Visual Journey: The Evolution of the Indian Cricket Jersey
India has been a constant presence in the men’s World Cup since its inception in 1975. The journey of the Indian cricket jersey began with the classic whites, a staple until the advent of colored clothing at the 1992 World Cup.
- 1983 World Cup: The Genesis of Glory The team that clinched India’s maiden ICC World Cup victory donned the classic white uniforms, a stark yet powerful representation of the game’s traditional roots.
- 1992 World Cup: A Splash of Color A significant shift occurred with the introduction of colored jerseys. India debuted in a dark blue shirt adorned with horizontal stripes in white, red, green, and light blue. Player names were emblazoned in yellow, and all competing teams featured similar thematic designs with identical patterns, differing only in color.
- 1993, 1994: Embracing Yellow In 1993, a yellow shirt with a blue band for the team name emerged, paired with light blue track pants. By 1994, yellow became more prominent in the blue and yellow combination, with player names in yellow and “India” in blue.
- 1996 World Cup: Lighter Hues, Consistent Design India’s jersey transitioned to a lighter shade of blue, maintaining the consistent design patterns seen across all teams. This iteration featured a wide yellow chest stripe with “India” inscribed in light blue and vibrant multicolored arrows.
- 1997, 1998: Shifting Emblems and Tricolor Accents The 1997 jersey saw the dark blue BCCI logo placed on the left. In 1998, the jersey initially featured a yellow and blue scheme before becoming entirely blue with a striking tricolor encircling the shoulders.
- 1999 World Cup: An Iconic Design Widely regarded as one of India’s most iconic and aesthetically pleasing jerseys, this light blue outfit featured a yellow BCCI crest emblazoned diagonally across the front.
- 2001: Sponsor’s Mark and Bold Branding The BCCI emblem moved to the right, and “India” was prominently set amidst three yellow bands. Sponsor Sahara’s logo made its appearance above “India” and on the left sleeve.
- 2003 World Cup: A Memorable Shade of Blue This jersey, in a signature light blue with subtle hints of black on the shoulders and sides, is intrinsically linked to Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary performance. It showcased the Indian tricolor in the center with the team name positioned above it.
- 2007 ODI and T20 World Cup: Tricolor Stripe of Triumph India sported a light blue jersey with a tricolor stripe running down the right side. Despite an unsuccessful ODI World Cup campaign, this very jersey became synonymous with triumph as the team clinched the T20 World Cup later that year.
- 2011 World Cup: The Triumphant Blend A slightly darker shade of blue than its 2007 counterpart, this jersey featured the team name, player name, and jersey numbers in orange. It was a harmonious blend of dark and light blue with tricolor stripes gracing both sides, a design deeply cherished due to India’s historic victory.
- 2015 World Cup: Maintaining the Momentum The jersey for this World Cup maintained a similar shade of blue to the 2011 version, complemented by orange details and a distinctive stripe pattern.
- 2019 World Cup: Home and Away Innovation This marked a significant innovation with the introduction of home and away jerseys. The main shirt was a traditional light and dark blue combination with a narrow orange stripe on the abdomen and orange inside the collars. The away jersey, famously worn against England, was a darker blue with prominent fluorescent orange details, garnering an overwhelmingly positive response from fans.
- 2023 World Cup: Adidas Partnership and Three Stars Produced in collaboration with Adidas, this dark blue ODI jersey featured iconic tricolor shoulder stripes. Notably, it was the first time India’s jersey proudly displayed three stars above the BCCI crest, symbolizing India’s three World Cup victories (1983 ODI, 2007 T20, 2011 ODI).
Indian Cricket Team Jersey Sponsors
The Indian cricket team’s jersey sponsorship rights represent a crucial revenue stream for the BCCI, attracting numerous prominent brands due to their immense visibility.
- ITC (Wills and ITC Hotels brands) (1993-2002): The Inaugural Sponsor ITC was the first official sponsor, though the exact value of the deal remains undisclosed as cricket was still in its nascent stages of commercial growth in India.
- Sahara India Pariwar (2002-2013): A Decade of Support Sahara became the longest-serving sponsor, making a substantial investment of over Rs 3.34 crore per international match.
- Star India (2014-2017): Transitioning the Baton Following Sahara, Star India took over the sponsorship, investing approximately Rs 1.92 crore for bilateral matches and Rs 61 lakh for ICC matches.
- Oppo (2017-2019): A Significant Investment Oppo secured the sponsorship rights with a reported payment of Rs. 1,079 crores for a five-year deal.
- Byju’s (2019-2023): A Brief Stint Byju’s succeeded Oppo, paying an estimated USD 35 million, but their contract was terminated prematurely in March 2023.
- Dream11 (2023-present): The Current Partner Dream11 became the official sponsor in July 2023, with a deal reportedly valued at a base price of Rs 358 crore. The BCCI set a base price of Rs 3 crore per match for bilateral matches and Rs 1 crore for ICC and ACC events. It’s important to note that the BCCI has strict guidelines, disallowing betting, cryptocurrency, tobacco, and real-money gaming companies from bidding for sponsorship.
- Adidas (Kit Producer/Sponsor since 2023): Crafting the Kit Adidas signed a five-year deal worth Rs. 350 crores to become the official kit producer, replacing Killer Jeans. This agreement entails a payment of ₹65 lakh to the BCCI every time India plays, with an estimated yearly cost of ₹70 crore, including merchandise royalties.
Significant Jersey Numbers and Their Stories
A cricketer’s jersey number can transcend mere identification, often holding profound personal meaning and becoming intricately linked with their legacy, evoking powerful memories of their impact on the game.
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Number 7): The Captain Cool’s Legacy Dhoni’s choice of number 7 stems from his birthdate, July 7. He also drew inspiration from Manchester United legend David Beckham, who famously wore the same number. Number 7 became deeply personal for Dhoni, symbolizing his remarkable journey, numerous achievements, and his iconic “Captain Cool” persona. Under his astute leadership, India achieved monumental victories, including the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. He also guided Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to an astounding five IPL titles. In a fitting tribute to his immense contributions, the BCCI officially retired the number 7 jersey in 2023, ensuring no other Indian player will don it in international cricket.
- Virat Kohli (Number 18): A Cosmic Connection For Virat Kohli, number 18 holds deep personal significance. His father passed away on December 18, 2006, and he made his India debut on August 18, 2008. These “two of the most significant dates” in his life share a “cosmic connection” to the number. His father’s passing further fueled his determination to become an exceptional cricketer. Kohli has worn number 18 since his India under-19 days and continues to use it in the IPL, making it a powerful symbol of his excellence and leadership.
- Yuvraj Singh (Number 12): The Dynamic All-Rounder Yuvraj Singh’s choice of number 12 is quite specific: he was born on December 12, at 12 PM in Sector 12 of Chandigarh. As an explosive all-rounder, he played a pivotal role in India’s triumphs in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 (including his legendary six sixes in an over) and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Number 12 encapsulates his dynamic and fearless approach to the game.
- Rahul Dravid (Number 19): The Wall’s Evolution While some speculated that Rahul Dravid wore number 19 to commemorate his wife’s birthday, reports from 2004 indicated he switched from number 5 to 19 based on numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani’s advice. Jumaani stated that Dravid, a “number 2 person” (ruled by the moon), needed a stronger number like 1 (the number of the sun). Known as “The Wall of Cricket,” his jersey number 19 has become iconic, symbolizing his unique technique, unwavering strength, and profound dedication.
- Virender Sehwag (Numberless): Defying Superstition The story behind Virender Sehwag’s decision to go numberless is shrouded in various origin stories, ranging from a numerologist’s recommendation to his personal desire to look beyond superstitions. This bold and unconventional move reportedly “irked” the International Cricket Council, though they ultimately only issued warnings.
- Sachin Tendulkar (Number 10): The God’s Enduring Mark Often hailed as the “God of Cricket,” Sachin Tendulkar initially wore number 99 before changing to 10 on the advice of an astrologer. In a lasting tribute to his unparalleled legacy, the BCCI officially retired the number 10 jersey in 2017. Shardul Thakur briefly wore the number 10 jersey for his ODI debut in Sri Lanka, explaining that the digits of his birthdate (16/10/1991) add up to 10. However, he faced significant negative attention and trolling for wearing the revered number.
- Rohit Sharma (Number 45): The Hitman’s Signature The current Indian Cricket Team Captain and dynamic opener, Rohit Sharma, is widely recognized for his jersey number 45. This number is synonymous with his elegant batting style, prolific record-breaking performances, and attacking leadership, under which India won the ICC T20I 2024 World Cup.
- Ravindra Jadeja (Number 8): The Versatile All-Rounder This key all-rounder is celebrated for his exceptional fielding, attacking batting, and wicket-taking spin bowling. The number 8 symbolizes his versatility and unwavering dedication to the game.
- Shubman Gill (Number 77): The Prince of Indian Cricket Known as the “Prince of Indian Cricket” for his exceptional batting prowess, Shubman Gill proudly dons jersey number 77.
- KL Rahul (Number 1): The Vice-Captain’s Choice KL Rahul, the current vice-captain of the Indian team, wears the number 1 jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Indian Cricket Team Jersey
The choice of blue for Indian sports jerseys, including cricket, is symbolic. It represents the vastness of the sky and ocean, as depicted in the Ashoka Chakra on the national flag. This choice also deliberately avoids religious or political bias associated with colors like saffron or green.
The Indian Cricket Team, and indeed all competing teams, began wearing colored jerseys in the 1992 World Cup. Prior to this, teams wore classic white clothing.
India debuted the “home and away” jersey concept for the first time in the 2019 World Cup.
The three stars above the BCCI crest on the 2023 World Cup jersey symbolize India’s three World Cup victories: the 1983 ODI World Cup, the 2007 T20 World Cup, and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Sahara India Pariwar was the longest-serving jersey sponsor for the Indian Cricket Team, holding the sponsorship rights from 2002 to 2013.
The BCCI has strict guidelines and does not permit betting, cryptocurrency, tobacco, and real-money gaming companies to bid for jersey sponsorship.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni chose number 7 because he was born on the 7th day of the 7th month (July 7). He also admired Manchester United legend David Beckham, who wore the same number.
Yes, the BCCI officially retired the number 7 jersey in 2023 in honor of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s contributions to Indian cricket, ensuring no other Indian player wears it in international cricket.
For Virat Kohli, number 18 holds deep personal significance as his father passed away on December 18, 2006, and he made his India debut on August 18, 2008. These “two of the most significant dates” in his life have a “cosmic connection” to the number.
The story behind Virender Sehwag’s decision to go numberless has multiple origin stories, ranging from a numerologist’s recommendation to his desire to look beyond superstitions. This bold step reportedly “irked” the International Cricket Council, but they only issued warnings.