5 Cricketers with the most unique superstitions

Sports and superstitions have always been intertwined, with some of the most famous athletes having the strangest customs and beliefs when playing. Cricket is a gentleman's game. Like everyone else, even the gentlemen in the game are human and have their own superstitions.

Over the years, some of the most famous cricket players have been known to follow odd superstitions. Even though we know they have nothing to do with their success, we look at a few.

1. Mohinder Amarnath and his Red handkerchief

Speaking of cricket players and handkerchiefs, Steve Waugh and Zaheer Khan were both well-known individuals who used a unique handkerchief for important occasions, although they weren't the first. Legendary Indian player Mohinder Amarnath, who took the last wicket in the 1983 World Cup final, carried his lucky red handkerchief in his pocket throughout his career. 

It's unclear if he shared Tiger Woods' conviction that the colour red is a sign of power. In the future, former Australian captain Steve Waugh followed suit, although it's obvious that the Indians started the trend.

2. Neil McKenzie – Toilet Seat Obsession

Before batting, Neil McKenzie, a well-liked but superstitious South African cricket player, would tape his bat to the ceiling and make sure that every toilet seat in the changing room was down.

At the same time, he wanted the dressing room's lights to all be turned off. Such an attitude doesn't seem all that unusual in a game like cricket, where using skill and technology is commonplace. Before retiring in 2009, the former South African opener played 58 Test matches and 64 ODIs because he thought these odd routines brought him luck.

3. Sachin Tendulkar’s “left-pad-first” Charm 

Even the great Sachin Tendulkar, who is known as the "God of Cricket," relied on superstition despite being the highest run scorer in Test and ODI cricket, proving to us all that he is a human being. In all of his matches had one thing in common: he always used to put his left pad ahead. Well, the Master Blaster of Indian cricket believed that putting his left pad ahead of the right one used to bring him good fortune.

Additionally, he is thought to have fixed his bat prior to the 2011 World Cup with the goal of winning the tournament, which he did in his final participation at the global competition.

4. Anil Kumble handing his sweater and cap to Tendulkar

India’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, Kumble, created history in 2000 by picking 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in Delhi. Jumbo became only the second player to do so, after Jim Laker, and not many players can claim this accomplishment; therefore, it was a historic day. However, during Kumble's legendary spell, an intriguing thing happened. 

He gave Sachin Tendulkar his cap and sweater each time he entered the bowl rather than the umpire. Up until Kumble took the final wicket, they both followed the same pattern. With 337 ODI and 619 test wickets, the Karnataka-born leggie retired.

5. Lasith Malinga – The Ball-Kissing Ritual

One of Lasith Malinga's peculiar and well-known superstitions was kissing the ball before each delivery. As part of his pre-delivery ritual, the Sri Lankan pace legend was frequently spotted placing the ball close to his lips and giving it a gentle kiss. 

Although Malinga never formally explained the reason behind this custom, it became a defining feature of his bowling run-up and was perceived as a means of concentrating before delivering his well-known yorkers that crush the toes or as a personal good-luck charm.

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