Acing the Ink Game: Decoding World Cup Squad Indian Cricketers Tattoos

Seeing an Indian cricket player from the 1990s with a tattoo, like Sachin Tendulkar or Kapil Dev, would have been as unusual as seeing a unicorn. Nonetheless, Indian cricket players have demonstrated throughout the years that they like getting tattooed, and they openly display their tattoos, which perfectly complement their personalities.

Many Indian players now consider it a norm rather than the exception to inscribe their zodiac, other major manifestations, philosophy and memorable life events on their skin. Let’s take a look at the philosophy of five Indian players from the ongoing World Cup who have aced their ink game as well as their cricketing skills.

Virat Kohli

When it comes to changing the tide on his fitness, king Kohli has set the example. He also enjoys showing off his tattoos, which cover his body in a variety of interesting designs. His body is covered with a collection of 12 tattoos that, among other things, represent his zodiac, his parents’ names, his ODI number, his Test cap number, a monastery, and Lord Shiva.

The tribal art tattoo represents his aggression while the lord Shiva is the depiction of self- destruction within to be a better version of himself. While ‘Scorpio’ is his zodiac sign, he has also inked his parents name to celebrate the connection he shares with them. He has tattooed the numbers 175 and 269 which represents two milestones in his career while a monastery tattooed symbolises peace and power. The Japanese Samurais on his arm resonates deeply with him as it represents seven important virtues. God’s eye on his shoulder represents an omnipresent almighty while Om helps him stay grounded. The geometric flower design is a powerful reminder of his spiritual journey.

K L Rahul

One of the most adaptable players on the Indian cricket squad, sports several tattoos. He has a lighthouse tattooed on his left forearm as a memento of his childhood home on the seaside in Mangaluru. His wrists have the names of his parents, Lokesh on the right wrist and Rajeshwari on the left. Additionally, he has an open eye on his left bicep, indicating that his grandparents are keeping a watchful check on him. He also has a tattoo of his dog, Simba.

He has a clock whose hands make 11 which indicates his birth time while the ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’ below it depicts that his time has begun to rule the world. His ‘Deshi Basara’ tattoo means ‘to rise up’ which is based on the 2012 batman movie. Inked numbers 284 and 11 represents his number of Test player and Jersey number consecutively. He also has an owl on his left hand which is a sign of wisdom and understanding while the key tattoo serves as a constant reminder to upbeat towards new experiences.

Ravindra Jadeja

One of the most significant players in Indian cricket right now, enjoys living a luxurious lifestyle and isn’t afraid to show it off. When he first began his profession, he had a dragon tattoo. Subsequently, he got a tattoo of his famous nickname, Jaddu surrounded by flowers.

He has a tattoo on his back that resembles a flower which he wished to flaunt while swimming. He tattooed a dragon tattoo on his 2008 tour to Australia as a member of the India- A squad. According to Jadeja, he got this tattoo done quickly just to obtain any kind of body art. Jadeja’s home in Jamnagar is where he loves to spend time with his horses. The spinner is so devoted to them that he has gotten a tattoo of his horse Lalbeer’s image on his right arm.

Suryakumar Yadav

This chic middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav debuted for India in the T20 series against England in 2021. He has ornate tattoos that reveal a lot about his sense of style and fashion.

He has inked names of his parents, wife and national cap numbers. His wife had requested him to get an evil eye tattoo in order to protect himself from bad energy. He also explained the meaning of his lion tattoo, which represents his serene disposition. Another tattoo on his upper arm has arrows, signifying the obstacles in life that drive him ahead. In a humorous way, he connected this tattoo to his three ducks in a cricket match against Australia. He has a distinctive Maori tribe design tattoo inspired from his tour to New Zealand. He learned that the design is believed to bring luck, love, and a sense of serenity. “Take one step at a time” is permanently inscribed on Yadav’s left foot.

Ishan Kishan

He became an international sensation in December 2022 when he achieved his first-ever double century in an ODI against Bangladesh. He has numerous original and imaginative tattoos.

He got inked just below his neck on his chest. The phrase that got tattooed says, “Trust Your Struggle.” Additionally, he has a Roman god inked on his left forearm. It was created with inspiration from Roman culture. One of his first tattoos in 2015 has flowers placed just below Sai Baba’s image. He has always respected Shirdi’s Sai Baba. His right bicep reads ‘believe’. Roses tattoo symbolizes love, passion, true feelings, emotions, mature love, new beginnings, and protection from an envious lover.