Numerology for success – our cricketers too

YEH NUMBER KI BAAT HAI! It’s not just filmi log who turn to numerology for success – our cricketers too, don’t mind getting that extra help

Why does captain Dhoni wear a jersey number 7, or Gautam Gambhir a number 5? Why does Sehwag not wear any number at all, when he used to wear one earlier? Buzz has it that most of them follow numerology and astrology in more ways than you’ll have noticed. And if numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani is to be believed, “All the cricketers are presently wearing their respective lucky numbers on their jerseys, barring a few.”

According to sources, “Since cricketers can’t change the colour of their uniform, the colours of the bands on their hands and even their underclothes are often those which are lucky. The gems on their rings too are those that their astrologers have advised. Even the license plate numbers of their cars add up to lucky numbers.”

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI

Born: July 7, 1981 I Lucky no: 7 I Jersey no: 7

He also wears a locket with a number 7 pendant.

SACHIN TENDULKAR

Born: April 24, 1973 I Lucky nos: 3, 6 I Jersey no: 10

For a long time, Sachin Tendulkar used to wear a number 99 (the highest number one can wear on a jersey). He later switched to number 10 (1+0 = 1). Though this has no connection to his date of birth, both are numbers of leadership, victory and power.

VIRENDER SEHWAG

Born: October 20, 1978 I Lucky no: 2 I Jersey no: None

Used to wear number 44 (4+4 = 8). But today, he is the only cricketer in the world who wears no number. Apparently, he did that on Jumaani’s behest. Says a source, “Number 8 was proving to be unlucky, so he visited Jumaani, who suggested he do away with the number 8. Today, he’s doing well.”

GAUTAM GAMBHIR

Born: October 14, 1981 I Lucky no: 5 (1+4 = 5) I Jersey no: 5

The shy Gambhir means gambhir business when he plays, haan?

YUVRAJ SINGH

Born: December 12, 1981 I Lucky nos: 3 and 12 I Jersey no: 12

The license numbers of his cars also add up to 12

SURESH RAINA

Born: November 27, 1986 I Lucky nos: 3, 6, 9 I Jersey no: Raina was given jersey number 13 during the IPL, which proved to be unlucky for him. He covered the digit 1 on his uniform with a tape – making it look like 3 – to ward off the unlucky 13’s impact

VIRAT KOHLI

Born: November 5, 1988 I Lucky no: 5 I Jersey no: 18

Says Jumaani, “This too is in sync with his numbers. Number 9 works for him as he’s an Arian.”

ZAHEER KHAN

Born: October 7, 1978 Lucky no: 7 I Jersey no: 34 (3+4 = 7)

If he couldn’t wear 7 (as skipper Dhoni already has that number) on his jersey, that doesn’t mean there are no other ways of following your number!

ASHISH NEHRA

Born: April 19, 1979 I Lucky no: 1 I Jersey no: 64 (6+4 = 10, 1+0 = 1)

Did they say having number 1 always helps?

SREESANTH

Born: February 6, 1986 Lucky nos: 3, 6, 9 Jersey no: 36 (3+6 = 9)

Earlier, the cricketer wore 55 (which did not add to his lucky number), so on Jumaani’s advice, he changed it to 36 – and got selected at the last minute for the World Cup after fellow pacer Praveen Kumar suffered an injury.

HARBHAJAN

Born: July 3, 1980 I Lucky no: 3 I Jersey no: 3

We’ve heard that he’s been following numerology for a long time, and it shows. P.S. Geeta Basra’s number (March 13, 1984 = 2) adds to 2, not 3!

NUMBER PE LIKHA HAI? Dhoni and Sehwag in their apparently lucky jerseys