Putting an Indian flag on helmets while playing cricket is a matter of pride for our cricketers. From Indian captain Virat Kohli to Yuvraj Singh, many of the Indian cricketers follow this practice whenever they took the field.
But, have you ever wondered why India’s former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, unlike Kohli, doesn’t sport the Indian flag on his helmet? The reason will surely win your heart.
History of Indian flag on the helmet
Former Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar started this practice of putting the Indian tricolour on his helmet. At first, he faced criticism for putting the national flag below the BCCI logo. He then started wearing helmets which had Indian flag placed on the top of the BCCI logo.
Following Sachin’s gesture, many cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh among others started putting the Indian tricolour on their helmets.
Now, let’s talk about Dhoni
Dhoni, who led the Indian Team to lift the inaugural World T20 title in 2007 and the World Cup in 2011, doesn’t follow this practice because of his role as a wicket-keeper.
As a wicket-keeper, Dhoni has to keep swapping his cap for the helmet as per the game’s demands. When not in need, the helmets are often laid on the ground behind the keeper.
As per the law, we can’t place our National Flag on the ground. Hence, out of respect for the National Flag, Mahi doesn’t follow this practice of placing the Indian flag on his helmet.
Now, you know the reason!