Sachin Tendulkar will ‘retire’ again from Indian cricket team - This is why

Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic No.10 jersey might not be worn by any Indian cricket team players as the Board of Control for Cricket in India claims that players are unwilling to don it out of respect for the icon.

The No.10 jersey that Sachin Tendulkar made his own may not be seen on an Indian player in the near future with the BCCI claiming that cricketers are unwilling to don it out of respect for the icon despite the absence of any plan to formally retire it.

Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic No.10 jersey was once worn by Indian cricket team pacer Shardul Thakur and he was heavily trolled on social media. (Getty Images)

Tendulkar retired in 2013 and since then, the No.10 jersey has only been seen once on an Indian player when Shardul Thakur wore it earlier this year on his ODI debut during the tour of Sri Lanka.

The 26-year-old pacer was trolled on social media for his choice and later went on to explain himself, stating that he picked the number for numerological reasons.

“It’s a very individual choice. If players don’t want to wear a certain number, one can’t force them. ICC might just tell you that a team can’t officially retire a jersey but it would never tell you that it’s mandatory to wear that number,” a BCCI official told PTI. “The BCCI has not taken any such call (retiring the No.10 jersey). It’s a very informal thing among players. Also you don’t want young players to be abused like it happened with Shardul Thakur,” he added referring to the trolling Thakur was subjected to for wearing the number.

However, clubs have done so, the most famous instance being Italian team Napoli retiring Maradona’s No.10 jersey to honour his legendary stint with the side.