A video has created a storm on social media platforms ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The video shows MS Dhoni leaving out his iconic number 7 jersey. The video was shared on Facebook from Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s official account.
MS Dhoni and number 7 have become synonymous with cricket fans across the globe. The former India captain, who guided Team India in multiple ICC trophies, including an ICC T20 World Cup trophy and an ODI World Cup, made the jersey number 7 iconic. In the prime stage of his professional cricket career, he featured for India and for multiple franchises in the Indian Premier League, with the same number on the back of his jersey.
MS Dhoni to play IPL 2026 for CSK without the iconic number 7 jersey!
According to the video, the former international keeper-batter is about to change his jersey number, from number 7 to number 8. For valid reasons, the video has sparked panic among cricket fans. But, in some separate theories, this video can be a part of a commercial campaign.
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Why did MS Dhoni choose to wear the Number 7 jersey?
There is a certain number of jerseys. which are associated with some particular cricketers, and there are often some stories behind their jersey numbers. For example, former West Indies and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opener Chris Gayle used to have ‘333’ as his jersey number. Gayle donned the jersey number 333 to commemorate his highest Test score of 333 runs, achieved against Sri Lanka in 2010. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar and jersey number 10 are also iconic in the cricket universe.
MS Dhoni chose to wear the number 7 jersey both for logical and emotional reasons. The number seven on his jersey is associated with his birthdate.
A couple of years ago, in an event, the former Indian cricketer explained, “That is the time or day my parents decided I would come on earth. So, I was born on the 7th of July. So July is again the seventh month. 81 was the year, so 8-1 = 7. So it was very easy for me to go out there when they asked me, ‘Okay, what number do you want?'”
BCCI retired Dhoni’s iconic jersey in 2023
In 2023, in a gesture of respect and to honor the contributions of MS Dhoni, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to retire the jersey. MS Dhoni’s shirt became only the second Indian cricket jersey, after Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic No. 10 jersey, to be retired by the board. Which means, not a single player will be allowed to use the same jersey number in the future.
With Number 7 on the back, the Jharkhand-born guided Team India to claim the T20 World Cup 2007, the 2011 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy 2023 triumphs. MS Dhoni concluded his illustrious international career on August 15, 2020. He is set to play for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026 season.
Read More: MS Dhoni begged to retire by AB de Villiers ahead of IPL 2026
