Sachin Tendulkar

During his captaincy, Sachin would never take off his playing gear even after his dismissal. Besides this, while going out for batting, Sachin always wears his left pad first. Anil Kumble remembers how Sachin used to come running, take his pullover and hand it to the umpire during the Delhi Test against Pak. Sachin believed that this would get Kumble a wicket. And he was right. Every time Sachin took the sweater and gave it to the umpire, Kumble got a wicket and finished with 10

Saurav Ganguly

Saurav always carries a photo of his Guru (spiritual teacher) in his pocket when he is out in the field. During the final of the NatWest Trophy in Lord's in 2002, India, chasing a big total were in deep trouble. However as Yuvraj and Kaif slowly brought India back into the match, Saurav instructed everyone not to budge from their seats in the dressing room. Ganguly who had kept his leg on the fence of the room, was seen in the same position for hours till India finally won.

Yuvraj's lucky charm

Other Indian cricketers also take their rituals quite seriously. Yuvraj Singh wears his lucky bandanna every time he goes out to bat. Virender Sehwag always carries a red handkerchief in his left pocket like former Australian skipper Steve Waugh used to. Rahul Dravid wears right pad first and puts his right foot forward first when entering the ground. Harbhajan Singh bends forward and prays whenever he comes on to bowl in a match.

Neil McKenzie

Neil McKenzie, the 32-year-old South African opener is another example. McKenzie used to believe he could not score runs unless the sporting gods had been brought on-side through various rituals including him decreeing toilet seats be closed before he left the dressing room and taping his bat to the changing room ceiling before each innings. Before the bowler runs in everytime, he likes to look to square leg, to fine leg, and then back at the bowler.

The Nelson figure

The number 111 is sometimes called a 'Nelson’, after Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval officer. The score 111 is considered as an ill omen in cricket as it resembles three wickets or a wicket without bails. A score of 111 or multiples thereof (222 = double nelson, 333 = triple nelson etc) is considered unlucky. Umpire David Shepherd famously practised superstition when the score was on a Nelson, by hopping in the air and then standing on just one foot until the score had moved on.