The Indian Cricket team is currently playing the One Day International series in the Retro Blue jerseys. The team’s new kit sponsor Mobile Premier League decided that the Men in Blue would be Men in Retro Blue for the limited-overs leg of this Australian tour. The retro kits are a throwback to the jerseys won by India during the 1992 World Cup.
From a commercial point of view, it could be a jack pot for MPL and BCCI. Fans across the globe often like retro kits with modern touch. It has been widely followed trend by football clubs as the likes of Adidas, Nike, and Puma have been re-designing retro kits with new effects. Australian cricket team has also used retro kits lately, and that has received a positive feedback from fans.
The jersey is regarded as India’s best uniform, but this jersey does not offer great luck to the Men in Blue. During the World Cup ’92, Mohammad Azharuddin led the Indian team had a horrific tournament. The team finished seventh during the round-robin round, winning only two out of eight league games. Azhar’s team only had one heroic moment in the World Cup when the team secured the famous win against the arch-rivals, Pakistan.
Mohammad Azharuddin’s Indian team and Virat Kohli’s current Men in Blues have a few similarities. Both the marquee events were played in Australia. Both the teams were the top contenders for the final glory. Lastly, both the teams had Ravi Shastri. The Indian team of 1992 also toured Australia before the World Cup. Australia bamboozled Indian team that had the likes of Tendulkar, Kapil, Srikkanth, and Srinath.
The case is the same with Virat’s team as well. The firm favorites for the ODI Series are getting hammered by the Aussies. The hosts scored 374-6 and 389-4 in the first two games. The Indian batting lineup hasalso pounded the Aussie bowling but unfortunately, for them, the targets were too big. Kohli and BCCI will be hoping to get first win in retro kit when they face Australia in final ODI on December 2.