The evolution of the Indian Cricket Team jersey in the past 23 years

Ever since the game of cricket shed its whites in the 50-over format, the team jerseys have been one of the important non-cricketing aspects of the sport. There are various factors that have been associated with cricket jerseys over the years range from team identity to style quotient to even luck on certain occasions.Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016 ScheduleOver the past few decades, the Indian team jersey has undergone a lot of changes in terms of color, design and fit. How the jersey looks today is a huge contrast to what it was during the 1992 World Cup.Let's take a closer look at the evolution of the Indian cricket jersey in the past 23 years.

#16 2017

India sported a new jersey when they took on England in the ODI and T20 series at the beginning of the calendar year. The new kit was launched with the motto “ Self-Belief”, with top Indian players sharing their stories about the love for the game and their struggle to reach the top.

#15 World T20 2016

This is the latest jersey the India team will be covered in when they play the 2016 World T20. The promotional picture with the jersey also features the women's team, another sign of the changing times.

#14 2015 ICC World Cup

India’s jersey in the 2015 World Cup was marginally different from the 2011 one

This is where the Indian jersey has reached after the process of its evolution began in 1992. The 2015 World Cup saw India put up a very good showing and making it to the semi-finals. This shows that Team India’s evolution has not only been in terms of their jersey but also in terms of becoming a force to reckon with in international cricket.

#13 2011 ICC World Cup

This jersey became memorable because of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph

India picked up their second World Cup trophy in 2011 after waiting 28 long years. The Indian jersey during the tournament was of a shade completely different from all the others they had worn earlier. Ever since they became world champions, Team India have stuck to a similar blue in the years that have followed.

#12 2009 Champions Trophy

India didn’t do too well in the 2009 Champions Trophy

For a brief period starting in 2009, India adopted a darker shade of blue, perhaps for the first time since the 1992 World Cup. They sported a jersey of the same colour in the 2009 Champions Trophy and although it made them look quite good, their performances were nothing to write home about. However, it was not long before Team India switched to slightly lighter shades of blue.

#11 2007 ICC World Cup

A good looking jersey did not help India’s cause at the 2007 ICC World Cup

To say that Team India had a terrible outing at the 2007 World Cup would be an understatement as they even lost to Bangladesh. However, the jersey they wore during their campaign was very decent to look at despite not being too fancy. It was light blue in colour and had stripes of saffron, white and green on one side.

#10 2003 ICC World Cup

Team India put up a stellar performance in the 2003 World Cup

No one had given the Indian team a chance in the 2003 World Cup, not even their own fans. However, they managed to put up a miraculous performance and ended the tournament as runners-up. Their jersey in the tournament was quite similar to their usual ODI attire apart from the large blue stripe on either side of it.

#9 2002 NatWest Series

Sourav Ganguly captained India to one of their best overseas triumphs

This is the same famous jersey which Sourav Ganguly waved on the balcony of Lord’s after India beat England in the final of the 2002 NatWest Series. It was easily one of Team India’s best looking jerseys as it displayed the Indian tri-colour very prominently on its light blue background. Looking at the jersey today instantly brings back memories of India’s then record chase of 326 which was looking highly unlikely at one point.

#8 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy

India’s jersey in the 2000 ICC Knockout brought about a change of fortunes

The 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy played in Kenya was a highly significant one in India’s cricketing history, the reasons being the discovery of a great leader in Sourav Ganguly and the emergence of some passionate young cricketers. Another change for Team India was a change in jersey, again light blue in colour but different from most of the previous ones in terms of design. The jersey became the identity of a reborn Indian team which was ready to scale any mountain.

#7 1999/00 Carlton & United Series

The series may have been a disaster for Sachin & Co but their jersey was quite decent

India’s tour to Australia in the 1999-00 season turned out to be a disastrous one for the team. The only good thing for Team India turned out to be their jersey during the ODI series. It was well designed and the colours were evenly spread out on the body. Right at the centre of the jersey, there was an enlarged version of the BCCI logo and a number was imprinted at the back under the player’s name.

#6 1999 World Cup

The 1999 World Cup jersey was slightly unique in design

Apart from a few matches, the 1999 World Cup was largely a difficult one for the Indian team. Although the colour of their jersey was almost the same as the 1996 World Cup jersey, the design was completely different. The jersey featured light yellow patterns which stretched across its body and sleeves ending at the cuffs. Tean India’s jersey was perhaps the only bright things about their otherwise dull campaign.

#5 1998 Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah

Sachin Tendulkar’s exploits made this jersey an unforgettable one

Team India’s jersey in the 1998 Coca Cola Cup triangular series played in Sharjah was one of the first to display the Indian tri-colour. The jersey was light blue in colour with a dark blue collar and green, white and saffron stripes on both sides. The primary reason for the popularity of this jersey was India’s unexpected success in winning the tournament with the great Sachin Tendulkar scoring twin centuries in consecutive matches against Australia.

#4 1996 World Cup

The 1996 World Cup turned out to be a mixed bag for India

The hue of the Indian jersey in the 1996 World Cup was quite the opposite of their dark blue in the 1992 World Cup. The jersey, specially designed for the World Cup, was light blue in colour with a large yellow stripe in the middle and India written at its centre. The campaign may have ended in disappointment for the Indians following a loss in the semis, however, their jersey turned out to become quite popular.

#3 1994 Singer World Series

Tendulkar scored his first ODI century in this jersey

The 1994 Singer World Series was a quadrangular tournament played in Colombo involving hosts Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Australia. The primary significance of the series down the line became Sachin’s maiden ODI century. The Indian team wore another different jersey in the tournament, this time light yellow in colour with a large light blue stripe at the centre with India written in the same yellow. Team India registered a series triumph by beating Sri Lanka in the final.

#2 1993 Hero Cup

The Hero Cup triumph was one of India’s early memorable moments in coloured clothing

The dark hues of the 1992 World Cup made way for a completely contrasting light blue in the 1993 Hero Cup. The jersey had India written at its centre and had a large yellow stripe enclosing a narrower black one on the right side and both sleeves. Although there was nothing great about the jersey, it became popular because of India’s success in winning the 5-nation tournament played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

#1 1992 World Cup

The jersey for the 1992 World Cup was easily the darkest shade of blue Team India have worn

The 1992 World Cup was the first one to have been played in coloured clothing. Among all the different colours which the teams sported, India’s navy blue jersey really stood out. Although they were not up to the task performance-wise, the Indian team did manage to be on top of the charts in terms of their playing kit. This Team India jersey definitely is one of the best they have ever worn in years.