Superstitions Followed By Various International Cricketers

The humankind has progressed a lot in every sphere from the ancient days. But superstitions and myth still exist among the human being. Superstition is common in every sport, especially cricket and as many say it helps increase self-belief among players.

There are instances of a number of cricketers being pretty much superstitious, and they follow it religiously on every occasion. Many Indian cricketers are said to have their lucky charms which they follow to the core.

Here is a list of 18 cricketers with strange superstitions:

Also read: Nick Compton Reveals All-Time XI, Includes One Indian In The Team

Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh is one of the best skippers the world cricket has ever seen. He has led Australia to many glories during his playing days. Superstitions also governed the former Aussie captain to some extent.

He used to carry a red handkerchief in his left pocket, which was said to be given to him by his grandparents. Waugh believed it to be lucky for him.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the best batsman of the 21st century. His 100 international centuries and over 33000 international runs are a testimony to his greatness. The God of Cricket even had some superstitions, and he remained superstitious throughout his career.

Whenever Tendulkar went to bat, he always put on his left pad first as he believed it to be one of the lucky charms for him. He himself admitted of this fact.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is a modern-day legend. His consistent run-scoring spree has taken him to the epitome of success. Kohli has been at his best across the formats and has led India’s batting for quite a few years now.

However, Kohli also believed in some kind of superstitions. The talented batsman used to wear the same pair of gloves with which he wore when he started scoring well. But now, Kohli doesn’t seem to have belief in all those.

Mahela Jayawardena

Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene has been one of their greatest servants. He has scored tons of runs for his country and has been rock solid in their middle over.

Jayawardene, like many, also had some superstitions. He is known to kiss his bat at frequent intervals while he bats which seemed lucky for the Sri Lankan great.

Sourav Ganguly

The former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was one of the gorgeous-looking left-handed batsmen to have played the game. His cover-drives and lofts over the mid-on fielders were a treat to the eye for the viewers.

Considered one of the courageous cricketers, Ganguly was perhaps one of the most superstitious cricketers in the history of the game. He is known for wearing a number of spiritual rings and also he never shaved during a test match while he was the captain of the Indian team. Ganguly also carried his guru’s photo in his pocket whenever he stepped on the field.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has been India’s best off-spinner post-Harbhajan Singh era. Ashwin has been one of the significant factors in India’s dominant at home in the last decade.

Meanwhile, Ashwin also had his share of belief in superstitions. He used to carry a bag with him regardless of the fact whether he played in the match or not. Although he got to play only two games, the bag was his constant companion throughout the tournament. Eventually, it turned out to be lucky for him as India lifted the World Cup after 28 years.

Yuvraj Singh

India’s World Cup hero in 2007 and 2011, Yuvraj Singh recently announced his retirement from international cricket. He has been India’s most exceptional all-rounder and has won his side many matches during his career.

The bravest player Yuvraj also possesses some superstitions within himself. He has a weakness for the number “12”. He always wears jersey number 12, and he considers it as his luckiest number as his birthday is on December, which is the 12^th month of the year.

MS Dhoni

The former India skipper MS Dhoni, is arguably the most excellent Indian skipper with three ICC trophies to his name. He is also the best finisher of modern-day cricket making him one of the greatest servant of Indian cricket.

The Jharkhand-born Dhoni also has some superstitions. He has a weakness for Number 7. He always wears the jersey number 7 in the limited-overs game, and since his birthday is on the 7th day of July (which is also the 7th month of the year), Dhoni considers ‘7’ to be his lucky charm.

Virender Sehwag

The Nawab of Nazafgarh, as he is famously called, is one of the best opening batsmen of this era. Virender Sehwag had the same approach across the formats and is the first Indian to score a triple-century in Test cricket.

Every cricketer seems to have some superstitions with the number on their jersey, and so is Sehwag. He has the superstition of wearing a jersey without any numbers on it. He considers it as lucky.

Anil Kumble

The former India skipper and head coach Anil Kumble was one of the bravest cricketers of all time. He battled a broken jaw to come out and bowl for his country. Kumble is also the only Indian and second bowler to take ten wickets in an inning.

Meanwhile, Jumbo, as he is known, had a particular belief throughout his career. He used to hand his sweater and cap to Sachin Tendulkar to give it to the umpire every time he came to bowl in a match.

Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga, who announced his retirement last month is an exceptional talent. His toe-crushing yorkers and slower-deliveries became an essential part of success for the fast bowlers of the modern generation.

The Slinga Malinga used to kiss the ball every time he bowled a delivery in a cricket match. Malinga used to consider this as lucky and repeated this exercise throughout his career.

Zaheer Khan

Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan has been India’s go-to man with the ball for over a decade. His ability to swing the new ball both ways and then reverse it as it grew old, made him one of the prodigies of fast bowling.

The left-arm pacer also followed certain superstitions throughout his career. Zaheer made sure that he carried his lucky charm – a yellow handkerchief during every vital contest.

Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid is a true perfectionist in his life just like his batting. The Wall has revived India from many difficult situations throughout his career, especially in Test cricket. A modernist in his approach, Dravid also believed in certain superstitions.

The Karnataka batsman always wore the thigh pad on his right leg and very mindfully avoided to use a brand new bat ahead of a brand new series.

Gautam Gambhir

The former India opener Gautam Gambhir will always be known for his two great knocks in the final of the 2007 World T20 and ICC World Cup final against Sri Lanka.

Gambhir, known for his straight-forward attitude used to believe one of the funniest superstitions. The southpaw never opened his pads after he got out early on his innings in IPL. He felt that his team will never lose when he kept on his pads until the end of the game.

Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn, who announced his retirement from Test cricket a few days back, has been the greatest example of modern-day fast bowling. His ability to terrorise the batsman with his sheer pace made him one of the best the game has seen.

Meanwhile, Steyn also had his lucky charm and made sure he abides by that in every game. The South African cricketer used to put his left foot first on the field with his eyes pointing towards the sky in almost every match.

Chris Gayle

The self-proclaimed Universe Boss had a carefree attitude towards everything and also had a Caribbean flavour to his batting. He is arguably the greatest T20 batsman and has a happy knack of clearing the grounds.

However, Chris Gayle also belives in superstitions and follows it religiously. The southpaw while coming out to bat, practises some of his favourite shots including the pull shot at the centre of the 22-yards pitch before moving to his crease to bat.

Michael Clarke

The former Australia skipper has served Australian cricket with all his might and was an outstanding batsman during his era. He also led the Aussies to the 2015 ICC World Cup title in his country.

Clarke, who was a tough cricketer and always believed in giving back, was also an ardent follower of superstitions. The former Aussie used to hear loud music before coming out to bat. Clarke has admitted that it helps him concentrate more and also seems lucky.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya is known to redefine the art of batting at the top of the batting order. He took an aggressive approach and went hard against the new ball. Even his courageous Sri Lankan cricketer used to belive in certain superstitions.

The southpaw used to check both his pads, gloves, helmet and pockets before facing every ball till the last day of his career. Jayasuriya used to consider this as lucky for him.