Over the years, with the increasing popularity of sports, jersey numbers have also gained importance. In sports like football and cricket, jerseys numbered 10 and 7 have become iconic due to the stature of players who have worn the number. Players choose their jersey number on their own, and many select their numbers because of some special reason. Today we will take a look at 6 popular players who have worn Jersey No.18 in international cricket.
#1. Adam Gilchrist (AUS)
Adam Gilchrist is a former wicket-keeper batsman and a former captain of Australia’s cricket team. He is widely considered as one of Australia’s best wicket-keeper batsmen of all time. Gilchrist has worn jersey no. 18 in his international as well as IPL career. He was a mainstay for Australia and played 287 ODIs.
Gilchrist scored 9619 runs in those 287 matches, at an average of 35.89. He was also a phenomenal wicket-keeper and was once the world record holder for most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in One Day Internationals.
#2. Virat Kohli (IND)
Virat Kohli is one of the greatest cricketers of all time, and arguably the best batsman of this generation. The Indian skipper has till date hit 70 centuries in his international career. In his international career, Kohli has maintained a 50+ average in all formats of the game.
Kohli picked his jersey number for a very sentimental reason. When he was 18 years old, his father passed away on December 18, 2006. This was the reason why he chose 18 as his jersey number. Kohli has worn this number since his U-19 days, and it will be immortalized along with his legacy when he retires.
#3. Moeen Ali (ENG)
Moeen Ali is one of the best all-rounders England has ever seen. The 33-year old was named as one the 5 Cricketers of the Year in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2015.
Ali is as good a bowler as he is a batsman. He is now a regular in England’s cricket team. Ali can mould himself into any role. He is equally effective as an opener, or as a finisher. So this makes him a sure-fire pick in all formats of the game. Ali wears jersey no. 18 in all formats of the game.
#4. Faf du Plessis (RSA)
Faf du Plessis is a veteran South African batsman and part-time spinner. He is a former captain of the international team. In February of 2021, he announced his retirement from Test cricket to focus on limited-overs cricket. He wears jersey no. 18 and chose this number for a special reason.
Faf decided to don the number 18 because he was making his international debut on January 18, 2011. Faf du Plessis has donned jersey no.18 in all formats of the game.
#5. Smriti Mandhana (IND)
Smriti Mandhana is one of cricket’s fastest rising talents. She became the youngest Indian T20 captain when Harmanpreet Kaur got injured.
Mandhana was asked why she chose number jersey no.18 on ‘Chahal TV’ by Yuzvendra Chahal. She said that she wanted #7 for her jersey, but it was already taken. A BCCI official suggested her to take #18, and she agreed. She later came to know that Indian skipper Virat Kohli shared the same jersey number.
#6. Trent Boult (NZ)
Trent Boult is New Zealand’s premier fast bowler and is one of the best pacers in the world. He didn’t always don jersey no. 18. Boult had #8 on his shirt but later changed it to 18 in 2014.
Before him, Matthew Sinclair used to wear the #18 jersey. Boult has the same number in all formats of the game, and IPL too. He plays for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
