Who was the first Indian cricketer to put a tricolor on his helmet? And while doing so was prohibited

Do you know who was the first cricketer to put the tricolor on his helmet and in which match wearing such a helmet? The record of the first example of installing an Indian flag on a cricketer’s helmet is in the name of Sachin Tendulkar. This incident made that Asia Cup match that started historic. After Tendulkar, many cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh also started putting an Indian flag on their helmets and then this process started. Sachin Tendulkar still recalls that historical occasion who puts the tricolor for the first time on his helmet. What he said on the occasion of 75th Independence Day was very much discussed: ‘I always feel very proud to put the Indian flag on my helmet.’

The historic Asia Cup match that is referring to was India’s first match in the 1997 Asia Cup. On July 18, R.K. of Colombo In that match against Sri Lanka at Premdasa Stadium, India scored 227 for 6 wickets in 50 overs and in response, Sri Lanka scored 231 runs for 4 wickets in 44.4 overs, when won by 6 wickets, 32 balls were left. Man of the match was Arjun Ranatunga, made 131* (played 152 balls, 17 fours and 100 -run partnership with Atapattu and Debut Lanka D. Silva). He later described it as one of his best innings.

Believe, at that time it was forbidden to apply the tricolor on your clothes or to put a tricolor on any other item. Then the debate started across the country by Sachin Tendulkar playing Indian flag on his helmet. Many were going to support them, so many were also going to call it wrong. This debate continued for the next several years! The biggest thing was that there was a ban on putting tricolor on clothes as per the flag code applicable at that time. There was also a lot of uproar when TV anchor Mandira Bedi, wearing a tricolor -designed saree during the World Cup. Will discuss this story in detail separately. Finally in February 2005, under the Indian Flag Code, the government issued an order in which the BCCI and everyone associated with them banned the use of the flag on clothes.

This order meant that cricketers and other sports sports stars could not write any message of patriotism anywhere on their sleeves, gears or their kits. In this way, it was being used at that time, not only Sachin Tendulkar’s helmet came into the limelight, the ban on captain Sourav Ganguly’s batting gloves also came into force as his trademark gloves also shined orange, white and green of the Indian flag. Then the famous Bollywood figure Sunil Dutt was the sports minister of India and he was also surprised by this decision. Sunil Dutt said, “I personally believe that cricketers should not stop using the tricolor. The national flag is morale to boost.”

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh then said, ‘This is his view, but I feel very proud to play with the national flag on the helmet. This is a completely different feeling. ‘

In this way, the debate in the case that arose over the use of the national flag on the cricketers’ kit has now taken a new color. Given this debate all over the country, finally the same month the government made it clear that they have no objection to the players using the tricolor on their helmets or dress, provided that the Ashoka Chakra is not made in that tricolor. Home Minister Shivraj Patil himself reported this decision to Rajiv Shukla, Vice President of BCCI. Even though the Home Ministry did not change its decision not to allow the national flag perform on helmets and dress, there was still great relief for cricketers and all other players, without Ashok Chakra, even without the Ashok Chakra.

Kissing his helmet after making his 100 or a big record of Sachin Tendulkar, is still in the mind of every Indian cricket fan. He used to do this because the Indian flag was built on his helmet and whatever he did on the ground, he felt proud to make his country proud. At that time, among the big cricketers, a special star cricketer did not put a tricolor on his helmet was MS Dhoni. He used to say: A wicketkeeper, often when he does not wear a helmet, puts it on the ground somewhere. The national flag is a symbol of great respect and respect, so the law is that it cannot be placed on the ground. So either you do not place the flag helmet on the ground or do not put the flag on the helmet.

On 23 January 2004, the Supreme Court gave its verdict in another case which is historic and which resonated across the country. Under this, all citizens got the fundamental right to hoist the tricolor throughout the year. With this, the tricolor returned to cricket proudly.