November 25, 2020 9:49:07 am
Team India captained by Azharuddin before a photoshoot in 1992. (Courtesy: Kiran More / Twitter)
The Indian cricket team will go retro for the limited overs series in Australia wearing the iconic dark blue uniform of the 1992 World Cup team, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The jersey with wide colored stripes on the shoulder has great souvenir value, as it marked the introduction of colorful clothing, white balls and spotlights at a 50-year World Cup. The Indian team had to ditch the lighter blue jersey, various versions of which have been worn for nearly two decades, because a new kit sponsor signed a three-year contract.
When India play Australia in the first One-Day International in Sydney on Friday, veterans of the 1992 team will appreciate seeing the dark blue uniform on the field. Former India goalkeeper Kiran More, a member of the ’92 World Cup team, has kept the jersey, which stands out for its clean appearance in the absence of multiple sponsor logos and ‘India’ written in yellow.
More was pleasantly surprised and nostalgic when he heard that the current generation of players, captained by Virat Kohli, were opting for this kit when they were consulted by BCCI before leaving for the tour.
Look what I found myself! The original 1992 jersey @ICC @cricketworldcup, it still fits me very well. It brought back all the good memories, what a tournament it was, as the great Richie Benaud would say on air: just magnificent! #Cricket pic.twitter.com/puqpXauUk5
– Kiran More (@JockMore) November 25, 2020
“I meet a lot of people who agree that this was the best jersey for the Indian team. The color is amazing and it is still fresh in people’s minds. It was the first time we played a World Cup with colorful clothes and with the white ball. Ask any cricketer of my generation and they will say that the 1992 World Cup jersey is the best. We had played in colorful clothes before, but not at a World Cup, ”More told The Indian Express.
The Indian team will wear the retro uniform for all three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals before switching to whites for the test series.
Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan tweeted a photo of himself in the jersey with the caption: “New jersey, renewed motivation, Read to Go.”
Last week MPL Sports, the product brand of online gaming company Mobile Premier League, held onto the rights for three years after Nike decided to end their long-term partnership in September. A senior BCCI official confirmed that the sponsor of the new kit could not copy the “design” used by Nike.
New shirt, renewed motivation. Ready to go. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gKG9gS78th
– Shikhar Dhawan (@ SDhawan25) November 24, 2020
To avoid copyright infringement, BCCI and MPL offered players different options. The players opted for the 1992 kit, which arrived in Australia on Tuesday.
“Since MPL is a new sponsor, they cannot use a similar design as the previous sponsor had. The MPL had sent us some designs for the one-day kit, including the 1992 design. We asked cricketers for feedback. They chose the one our players wore during the 1992 World Cup, ”said BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal.
The 1992 uniform appointment for current players will not be long-term, as new sponsors will eventually come up with their own design, the BCCI official said. “As a new sponsor (MPL Sports), they will eventually have to come up with a design of their own. They will have to use their own technology (to create fabrics), ”added Dhumal.
The Indian team finished seventh in the free-for-all stage winning just two games. More is remembered for irritating Pakistan’s Javed Miandad with his calls from behind the wicket, which saw the batter jump up and down to taunt him.
The team’s under-par finish doesn’t take away any of the excitement attached to the jersey for More. “Aside from the jersey, I even have the jersey,” More said. “It is very valuable to me.”
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
.
