"It carries their chants and cheers"
The Indian cricket team will be sporting a brand new kit ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2021.
The BCCI unveiled the new jersey just days before India begins its campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24, 2021.
The tournament runs from October 17 to November 14, 2021, in the UAE and Oman.
Called the ‘Billion Cheers Jersey’, India’s new kit is said to be inspired by the fans and it replaces the 1992 World Cup pattern-like kit the team had been sporting since late 2020.
The BCCI made the announcement while also sharing a picture of KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah in the new jersey.
MPL Sports are the official kit sponsor of the Indian men’s, women’s, and Under-19 teams.
India remains with a dark blue colour, specifically opting for shades of Prussian and royal blue. It also features orange accents on the sides and on the collar.
But a new addition is the contrasting pattern that is meant to represent soundwaves of the fans’ cheers from iconic matches in the past.
The first-of-a-kind inclusion is a tribute to their continuous support over the years.
On the kit’s concept, MPL Sports said in a statement:
“This is the first time in the history of Indian cricket that fans have been memorialised on a jersey.
“It carries their chants and cheers from iconic past matches, transformed into unique soundwave patterns.
“This will undoubtedly provide the team with the much-needed enthusiastic support in their quest to emerge as the T20 champions of the world.
“We are also pleased to see that MPL Sports continues to deliver merchandise that is widely affordable and accessible.”
India’s Cricket World Cup kit prompted a lot of social media reactions.
Many users liked the new jersey while others wished the Indian team good luck.
One person said: “Wow looking so good this jersey.”
However, some people questioned the sponsor’s prominence on the shirt.
India’s new kit was also showcased on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
For the first time ever, a Team India Jersey lit up the @BurjKhalifa
The #BillionCheersJersey inspired by the cheers of a billion fans reached new heights, quite literally ? Are you ready to #ShowYourGame & back Team India ? pic.twitter.com/LCUxX6NWqz— MPL Sports (@mpl_sport) October 14, 2021
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said: “The Indian cricket team enjoys support not just in India but around the world, and there’s no better way to celebrate their excitement and energy than through this jersey.
“This will undoubtedly provide the team with the much-needed enthusiastic support in their quest to emerge as the T20 champions of the world.
“We are also pleased to see that MPL Sports continues to deliver merchandise that is widely affordable and accessible.”
The board’s secretary Jay Shah added:
“The story behind the jersey is a story of every Indian cricket fan.
“We are sure that wearing this will be a matter of great pride for both the team and supporters alike.”
The T20 World Cup gets underway on October 17, 2021, with the qualifying round. The main tournament starts on October 23, 2021.
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