Sachin Tendulkar’s Pad Protocol and Private Tea
For a man worshipped as the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar’s superstitions were surprisingly grounded. His most famous ritual was always putting on his left pad before the right one. This small act became an unshakeable part of his pre-innings routine
throughout his 24-year career. Beyond the pads, Tendulkar developed another ritual for mental peace: making his own tea before a match. He revealed that he insisted on this practice to ensure no one entered his room, giving him a quiet, peaceful moment to prepare his mind for the game ahead. It was a simple habit that he said was part of more innings than most people realise.
Virat Kohli’s Lucky Gloves and White Shoes
Modern-day icon Virat Kohli is known for his intense focus, and some of that is channeled through his own set of beliefs. For a long time, Kohli was known to use a specific pair of batting gloves which he believed brought him good form. He would continue using them until they were practically falling apart, convinced they were lucky. In a conversation with football manager Pep Guardiola, Kohli also revealed another superstition: he loves batting in white shoes. He feels that wearing white shoes helps him get into his performance zone and feel a sense of serenity and confidence at the crease.
Neil McKenzie’s Ceiling Bat and Toilet Seats
Perhaps the king of cricketing quirks is former South African batsman Neil McKenzie, whose rituals were numerous and legendary. The most bizarre one involved taping his bat to the changing room ceiling the night before a match. This started after his teammates did it as a prank, and he went on to score a century the next day. From then on, it became a deliberate pre-match practice. McKenzie also reportedly had to ensure all the toilet seats in the dressing room were down before he walked out to bat and had a phobia of stepping on white lines, including the crease. These habits were later understood as symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), for which he sought help.
Steve Smith's Constant Fidgeting
Australian batting maestro Steve Smith is famous for his unorthodox technique and a series of constant, fidgety movements at the crease. Between every single delivery, he goes through an elaborate routine of adjusting his pads, helmet, and gloves, tapping his bat, and surveying the field. While it might look like nervous energy, it's a controlled process that helps him reset his mind, eliminate the result of the previous ball, and trigger his brain into performance mode. Teammate David Warner has joked that you can't sleep if your hotel room is below Smith's, as all you can hear is the constant tapping of him testing his bats, sometimes even blindfolded.
Lasith Malinga’s Kiss of Luck
Sri Lankan pace legend Lasith Malinga had one of the most unique bowling actions in cricket, and he paired it with a simple, signature ritual. Before starting his run-up for every delivery, Malinga would kiss the cricket ball. It was a small, affectionate gesture, a quiet moment between the bowler and his weapon of choice. This kiss was seen as a way to invite luck and success before he unleashed his famously deceptive yorkers and slower balls on opposing batsmen. The ritual became so synonymous with his action that Sachin Tendulkar once playfully pointed out that new ICC rules against using saliva might force Malinga to change his routine.
Rahul Dravid's Thigh-Pad Preference
Known as 'The Wall' for his incredible patience and solid defence, Rahul Dravid also had a superstition he stuck to throughout his career. In contrast to Sachin Tendulkar's left-pad-first rule, Dravid always made sure to put on his right thigh pad first. It was a small but non-negotiable part of his preparation before walking out to build his famously long innings. While he later mentioned that former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani advised him to move away from such beliefs, the thigh-pad ritual remains one of the most cited examples of his on-field habits.
