Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has called for the BCCI to retire jersey numbers 18 and 45 in honor of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s immense contributions to Indian cricket. This comes after India’s triumphant victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where both players announced their retirement from the T20I format.
Raina joins the likes of MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar whose jerseys, number 7 and 10 respectively, have already been retired by the BCCI. He believes retiring these jerseys would inspire young players and motivate them to create their own legacies.
However, another former Indian player, Robin Uthappa, has a different perspective. He expressed concerns about limiting the jersey pool available for upcoming players, especially considering there are already retired numbers. Uthappa suggests the BCCI hold onto these iconic numbers and bestow them upon future players who demonstrate exceptional talent and merit.
This contrasting viewpoint highlights the ongoing debate surrounding jersey retirement in cricket. While Raina emphasizes honoring legends, Uthappa prioritizes opportunity for future generations. The BCCI’s decision on Kohli and Sharma’s jerseys will be interesting to see in light of these differing opinions.