With less than 100 days to go before the 2019 ICC World Cup gets underway in England, Indian cricket team’s official apparel partner, Nike, unveiled the team’s jersey for cricket’s showpiece event this summer.
On the eve of the first ODI against Australia in Hyderabad, skipper Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni unveiled the new jersey on Friday, 1 March, which Team India will be donning during the World Cup. Along with Kohli and Dhoni, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Ajinkya Rahane and Prithvi Shaw were also present for the launch ceremony.
At the launch, skipper Kohli said it is the best Nike jersey he has worn in ten years.
“I can feel the change. It (new jersey) is so light on the body. It is breathable. I feel there is no restriction at all. It is very stretchable, more than the last jersey. I can’t wait to step on the field with this one.”Virat Kohli, Captain, Indian Cricket Team
The jersey features three stars on the inside at the back, signifying India’s three World Cup titles (two ODI World Cup and one T20I World Cup). Along with the stars, the dates, scores and co-ordinates of the venues of Team India’s World Cup triumphs have also been inscribed.
India have been sporting the three stars on their jersey for sometime now but for the first time the three stars will be seen at the back of the jersey.
“This (three stars) always remind you of the great legacy thatwe have got. And it is not only this. Beyond that also we had bilateral seriesand playing cricket in a way we have reached number one ranking in each andevery format. These are all motivational factor and whenever you look at themyou get motivated to give that extra 10-15 percent.”Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Like earlier designs, Nike has again decided to make the jersey from recycled material. This time around it is recycled polyester and blue continues to be the primary colour and orange as the secondary. In fact, the jersey features two shades of blue for the first time. A darker shade on the torso, while a lighter one on the sleeves, with India written across the chest in the familiar orange shade. There are also orange streaks at the side of the jersey and under the collar.
In the past, Nike has come up with some fantastic designs. For the 2015 World Cup, it introduced a unique jersey made up of recycled plastic bottles. In 2016, a four-way stretch designed was introduced right before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup.
While the World Cup starts on 30 May, the Indian team will be in action from 6 June, when they will play South Africa in Southampton in their campaign opener.
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