Mumbai: Virat Kohli and Co are set to kick off their World Test Championship campaign by playing a two-match Test series against West Indies.
For the first time in the history of Test cricket, jerseys will have names and numbers of the players at the back.
Team India recently share pictures of the new Test jersey where skipper Virat Kohli can be seen sporting the new apparel with number 18 on the back.
Many Indian players expressed their views on the new concept and they believed that it was a good move to engage the audience as it would make easier for the fans to identify the players.
Cheteshwar Pujara said that having names and numbers on the jersey adds more pride to the players and that the experiment is great.
“It’s a good thing. If you look at the ODI and T20I format, players have names on their back. Becomes easier for the crowd to identify the players. Great feeling for players to have their names and numbers on the jersey. It should continue,” Pujara said in a video posted by bcci.tv.
Opener KL Rahul expressed that the move will add more colour and vibrancy to the Test cricket.
“There is a bit more colour. Bit more for the crowd to enjoy as well. At times all the players look the same. We all have beards so once we put the helmets on, it becomes difficult to identify the players, so yes, this will add more colour,” said Rahul.
Ravichandran Ashwin also supported the move and said that this move would help in engaging the fans.
“Will help to engage fans onto the 5-day format. I think it shouldn’t be a hassle for players, it is lying on the back of the t-shirts. Don’t know why it is a problem at all. Whatever helps get the youngest fans back to the oldest format of the game is great,” said Ashwin in the video.
