IPL 2017: After Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma, Rahane takes the #BreakTheBeard challenge
If you are a player enduring a lean patch before the commencement of the IPL, it doesn’t really matter. All you have to do is step up and perform exceedingly well in the tournament. That is the exuberant stature of the Indian Premier League where you can grab all the eyeballs around the world and make up for the hard times you have been through as a player.
The 10th edition of the IPL is no different; we have already seen many scintillating knocks this year. But there is something more intriguing happening off the field.
We are now witnessing the Indian players become the trendsetters with their fashion sense. Several top Indian players have taken to social media to showcase their dashing looks with the beard. The list includes Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, with now even Ajinkya Rahane going #BreakTheBeard way.
In the upcoming weeks of the glamorous league, a host of other stars are expected to join them and go on #BreakTheBeard.
Jadeja goes the #BreakTheBeard way and instantly becomes the trendsetter
Ravindra Jadeja went #BreakTheBeard way earlier this week and the response the Team India’s fashionista fetched on social media was tremendous. In the recent past, the left-arm all-rounder has frequently showcased his fashionable side by sporting beards along with handle-bar-like moustaches. He has also highlighted his Rajput roots by performing the infamous sword-wielding celebration after scoring a 50. But looks-wise, it was too mainstream for Jadeja to maintain the same look in the IPL.
Jadeja walked into IPL 10 on the back of an immensely successful Test season and was expected to extend his form to the shortest format of the game but unfortunately, he missed the first couple of matches with an injury. Since his return to the Gujarat Lions side, he has failed to inspire with the bat and the ball but he has been exceptional with his style quotient. With his current look, Jaddu has probably outscored his previous glamour-rich get-ups.
In a 15-second video uploaded on Twitter, Jadeja unveiled the new facial hairstyle he dons, with the ‘Starboy’ music playing in the background. He now sports a perfect handlebar moustache along with goatee which fits exquisitely on Jaddu’s square chin.
Here is the video Jadeja uploaded:
Well, it did not end here. Mumbai Indians’ stars Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya too have gone the #BreakTheBeard way now and the Indian teammates have taken to social media to reveal the same.
Mumbai Indians’ stars Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya #BreakTheBeard as well!
If you are talented, and if the domestic circuit doesn’t get you recognition, the IPL surely will. Hardik Pandya is one of those players who went from anonymity to popularity within weeks, courtesy the IPL. The 23-year-old has seen his stock rise so quickly that in just two years he has been branded as the optimal solution to India’s long wait for an all-rounder.
2016 was a year to remember for Pandya and 2017 has just been a step further for the youngster. He is now batting higher up the middle order for Mumbai Indians, and some of his cameos in this edition have been simply stunning to watch.
The swashbuckling all-rounder has now also got himself a new look. Pandya uploaded a video in which the lanky stud can be seen disclosing his blend of The Zappa and a flawless chin beard.
With the ultra-modern look, Pandya has highlighted the need for men to have unique looks and to try different things with their facial hair. He even dedicated this to Jadeja and wrote, “Jaddu, this one's for you. We got no dressing room confusions here now. #BreakTheBeard #MIGotStyle #newlook #KKRvGL #OneMoreSurpriseComing.”
Pandya was quick to tease the fans with a hashtag as well. He cleverly emphasised that there is one more surprise coming. A stylish haircut maybe? Well, all we need to do is wait for some more time drenched in curiosity.
Here is the video where Pandya can be seen with a lot of debonair style:
Pandya was not the only Mumbai Indians star to do this. Mumbai Indians and Pandya’s skipper Rohit Sharma has joined the party as well.
Sharma is now back in the reckoning after a long injury lay-off. The right-hander missed the large chunk of matches in India’s marathon home season after undergoing a thigh surgery and has taken quite some time to make a mark in year’s IPL. After battling through the difficult period in the first few matches, Sharma scored an unbeaten 40* against the Gujarat Lions but failed to continue the run in the subsequent matches.
However, Sharma seems to have embraced his only knock of 30+ in IPL 10 by going on to #BreakTheBeard. In the video uploaded on social media, Sharma presented himself with an ‘Ideal French beard’.
The Mumbaikar has close to 3 million fans on his Instagram account and is highly active on social media. He wrote, “Decided to finally have a summer style of my own. My time to #BreakTheBeard!,” in the video where he can be seen unveiling his modish side.
Here is the video:
Going from unpretentious to ultra-classic, Ajinkya Rahane is the latest player to #BreakTheBeard
Yes, it’s Rahane! Ajinkya Rahane can be extremely patient and unruffled on the field. The Mumbai-born batsman has always hogged the headlines for his heroics with the bat and his captaincy skills. However, the Rising Pune Supergiant’s opener has come out in the open to showcase his swanky side as well.
With many of his national teammates opting to showcase a little swagger during the IPL, Rahane has now gone on to #BreakTheBeard and boast a funky side of his own. Hours before his team’s match against the Mumbai Indians at his home ground – the Wankhede – Rahane uploaded a video where he can be seen sporting the classic ‘Soul Patch’.
In addition to this, the voice in the background music goes on saying ‘I am a classic man’. Well, that is Ajinkya Rahane for you – calm, composed, and classic. He has so far experienced a grey patch in the IPL with just 159 runs to his name but Rahane is a shrewd operator in addressing his flaws and will be hopeful that he can turn things around and fire at the top after donning a new look.
Rahane wrote, “Here's the classic way to #BreakTheBeard! #newlook #classicman #myway @rohitsharma45 @royalnavghan @hardikpandya_official”, on his Instagram account and he did not miss out on tagging the other #BreakTheBeard cricketing pals. The new style renders Rahane a much younger look.
Take a look at the video:
Unlike football, cricket has not really convinced the fans to follow the players’ styles. But we all can sense that nobody wants to be clean shaved every day of the week, nor do people want to go unshaved for a long time. The trend for people around the country is to sport well-maintained facial hair, but things might just be about to change.
With cricketers setting the trend in a cricket-crazy nation like India, we can firmly believe that this will force fans to bring about subtle changes in their own personal styles.
It would be interesting to see which player will go on to #BreakTheBeard in the forthcoming weeks. We could have speculated about former India skipper MS Dhoni had it been something to do with the hairstyle but ‘The Finisher’ has worn a clean shaven look for quite some time now. In addition to this, Virat Kohli has ruled out getting a makeover and has also been supported by actress Anushka Sharma for the same.
So who else can #BreakTheBeard? Keep pondering while we pose a question for you – are you looking to go the #BreakTheBeard way as well?