The members of our beloved Indian Cricket Team have some very funny nicknames with unbelievable backstories. Read on to know some of these and how the players came to be known with these names!
1. Virat Kohli a.k.a. Cheeku – Named after a cartoon rabbit
When he was a child he was chubby and had big ears. With his hair cut really short, one of his coaches thought he resembled a rabbit by the name of Cheeku from the Champak series and since then the name has stuck.
The heartthrob called Cheeku
2. Suresh Raina a.k.a Sonu – Named by mistake
While playing in his mohalla, someone suddenly called out to him with the name “Sonu!”, and after that everyone followed suit assuming that is his nickname. After that the name just stuck.
3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni a.k.a Mahi – Gave himself his nickname
His nickname was Mahe, which is the first four letters of his name. But Mahe didn’t trip off the mouth as easily so he decided to start calling himself Mahi and the name stuck. Once it was heard over the mic in the stumps the media picked it up and the name stuck.
4. Harbhajan Singh a.k.a. Bhajji or Turbanator – No one knows why
His real nickname, at home, is Sonu. But out in the field his nickname came to be Bhajji and he doesn’t know where this name came from. Then due to his aggressive game and the fact that he wore a Turban he came to be known as Turbanator – inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator. No one can quite place the origin or the but the player has been quoted to have said, “I’m associated with more as Bhajji than Sonu.”
“We’ll win this!”
5. Ajinkya Rahane a.k.a. Jinks or Ajju – Thats how it has always been
Every member of his family calls him Ajju, so the name came on to the field. Also known as Jinks but no one can quite trace the origin of it. It’s a little anglicised version of his first name, we suppose.
Jinks, our hero!
6. Ajit Agarkar a.k.a. Bombay Duck – Unfortunate nickname from unlucky incident
He got stuck with this ridiculous nickname is due to an unfortunate incident in a match where he got 7 ducks consecutively against Australia!
Zero duck resemblance!
7. Ravindra Jadeja a.k.a. Sir Ravindra Jadeja – Funny story
The reason why he has earned this elite title is a quite a funny story. Somebody played with his Wikipedia account and referred him as a philanthropist and a Nobel prize winner and ever since then he has been Sir Ravindra Jadeja to all of us!
Definitely a worthy Sir!
8. Yuvraj Singh a.k.a Yuvi – Just a nick name
He believes his nickname came to be Yuvi because it is shorter than Yuvraj. We think they are both easy enough to say or shout across the field.
9. Rohit Sharma a.k.a The Shaana – named by Yuvraj Singh
Rohit Sharma believes that Yuvraj Singh gave him this nickname Rohit is shy and the quietest so Yuvi believes, he is the most Shaana in the team.
