Superstitions: Cricketers often embrace unique superstitions for luck, from wearing specific jerseys or accessories to following rituals like stepping with the left foot first or kissing their bats. Icons like Tendulkar, Dhoni, and Kapil Dev upheld quirky habits, showcasing how deeply personal beliefs can influence their preparation and performance on the field.
Superstitions are common in the world of cricket, with many cricketers following unique rituals to ensure good luck and performance. Some players, like Ricky Ponting, always wore the same pair of gloves during their successful innings, while others, like Sachin Tendulkar, followed specific routines before each match, such as placing their bat in a particular position. Shane Warne was known to wear a specific pair of socks and avoid stepping on the boundary line. These rituals, while scientifically unproven, help players focus and build mental confidence, showing how superstition can play a psychological role in their game.
Superstition of Left pad
Superstitions: Sachin Tendulkar was notably superstitious, consistently putting on his left pad before the right one, believing it brought him luck. Similarly, cricketers like Craig Evans, Bill Edrich, and Sir Jack Hobbs shared the same ritual, always prioritizing the left pad over the right.
Handkerchief superstition
Superstitions: The legendary Australian Steve Waugh had a distinctive habit of carrying a red handkerchief gifted by his grandmother. Similarly, Indian all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath considered his lucky red handkerchief essential, while Zaheer Khan favored a yellow handkerchief in crucial matches, believing it brought him good fortune.
Change in Jersey number
Before the 2011 World Cup, Virender Sehwag adopted a unique superstition based on advice from his numerologist, opting to wear a jersey without a number—a decision that worked well for him. Similarly, Umar Akmal, seeking a change of luck after a poor run, switched his jersey number from 96 to 3 on the recommendation of his spiritual guide.
Sacred black Taweez
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin was known for wearing a black taweez around his neck and had a ritual of circling his head twice before taking strike, often pulling the taweez out of his jersey while batting. Similarly, Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan also wore black taweez for luck, and Virat Kohli was once seen sporting a religious black thread as a protective charm.
Love for Birthday number
Yuvraj Singh considers 12, his birth date on December 12th, as his lucky number, which he prominently displays on his jersey. Similarly, MS Dhoni, born on July 7th, cherishes the number 7, wearing it on his jersey as a symbol of good fortune and a number deeply special to him.
Teams glued to a certain position
During the 1983 World Cup match against Zimbabwe, as Kapil Dev began his iconic innings, the Indian team adhered to a superstition, refusing to move from their positions for luck. Kris Srikkanth, stuck outside the dressing room on a cold, windy day, remained rooted for two hours, even forgoing nature’s call. A similar scenario unfolded in 2002, when Kaif and Yuvraj were batting well, with players again avoiding any movement to maintain the streak of good fortune.
Supernatural magic of left foot and shoe
Dale Steyn had a ritual of stepping onto the field with his left foot first, believing it brought him luck. Similarly, Brett Lee consistently put on his left shoe first, sticking to his superstition. The mystery of the “lucky left side” remains known only to them!
Kissing bat
Mahela Jayawardene followed a long-standing superstition of frequently kissing his bat, a ritual he performed often. Similarly, former cricketer Roshan Mahanama had the habit of kissing the tip of his bat’s handle before every ball, making it a consistent part of his routine.