MS Dhoni reveals why he chose No. 7 for his jersey

11 February, 2024

He revealed that it corresponds to the day his parents decided he would be born on Earth, making it an easy choice for him to pick his jersey number.

The No. 7 jersey holds significant symbolism for Dhoni, who led India to World Cup glory in 2007 (T20) and 2011 (ODI). In recognition of his immense contributions to Indian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) retired the No. 7 jersey in December 2023.

During a recent event, Dhoni was asked to divulge the reason behind his choice of the number seven. Renowned for his quick wit, the Indian cricket legend provided the explanation at a promotional function.

“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 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’," Dhoni said.

Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the finest white-ball cricketers in history. Hailing from Ranchi, he initially gained recognition for his explosive batting prowess before cementing his reputation as one of the greatest finishers the game has seen.

In his illustrious career, the 42-year-old featured in 350 ODIs for India, accumulating 10,773 runs at an impressive average of 50.57 and a strike rate of 87.56, including 10 centuries and 73 half-centuries. Dhoni also represented India in 90 Tests and 98 T20Is, scoring 4,876 and 1,617 runs respectively. He captained India to their last ICC trophy victory — the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.

As he gears up for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni has been honing his skills in the nets. Under his leadership, CSK clinched a record-equalling fifth title triumph in 2023.