Cricket is a game of skill, patience and strategy — but like many sports, it’s also wrapped in the threads of superstition. Over the years, even the most successful cricketers have confessed to strange habits or rituals they follow religiously, hoping to bring themselves a bit of luck on the field.
Whether it’s a lucky glove or a fixed seat in the dressing room, these superstitions often become part of their personality.
Let’s take a look at five cricketers and the odd beliefs that accompanied their cricketing journey.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – Left Pad First
The ‘Master Blaster’ of Indian cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, had a peculiar routine that he rarely deviated from — putting on his left pad before the right one. Tendulkar followed this ritual in every single match he played, no matter the format. He believed it helped him get mentally into the zone and brought consistency to his game. From fans to teammates, this tiny superstition became well-known in the cricketing world.
Interestingly, it wasn’t just Sachin Tendulkar who had a superstition — his wife Anjali did too. She would always sit in the exact same spot in the room for as long as Sachin was batting. When the legendary cricketer was at the crease, the entire nation held its breath, soaking in every moment of his brilliance.
2. Steve Waugh – The Red Handkerchief
Australian legend Steve Waugh was known for his gritty, no-nonsense approach on the field. Yet, he had a soft spot for a small red handkerchief that he carried in his pocket throughout his career. The handkerchief was given to him by his late grandmother and quickly became a good luck charm for the former Australian captain. Waugh admitted he felt uneasy without it on match days and it became a part of his match-day attire.
3. Neil McKenzie – Toilet Seat Obsession
Neil McKenzie’s pre-match superstitions included taping down all toilet seats, turning off the dressing room lights and tapping his bat on the ceiling before batting.** The former South African opener believed these quirky rituals brought him luck and went on to play 58 Tests and 64 ODIs before retiring in 2009.
4. Zaheer Khan – Yellow Handkerchief
Zaheer Khan, India’s pace spearhead during their historic 2007 Test series win in England and joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup alongside Shahid Afridi, had a peculiar superstition — he always carried a yellow handkerchief in his pocket while bowling. From working in a textile mill to claiming 600 international wickets and becoming a world champion, Zaheer’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring — and he wouldn’t mind attributing a part of his success to that lucky yellow cloth.
5. Lasith Malinga – The Ball-Kissing Ritual
Lasith Malinga had a unique and quite well-known superstition — he used to kiss the ball before every delivery.
The Sri Lankan pace legend was often seen bringing the ball close to his lips and gently kissing it as part of his pre-delivery routine. While Malinga never officially elaborated in detail about the exact reason behind this ritual, it became a signature part of his bowling run-up and was seen as a personal good-luck charm or a way to focus himself before delivering his famous toe-crushing yorkers.