BRING ON THE TATTOOS

A new-look India team packed with youngsters is using body ink to express beliefs and thoughts...

MURALI VIJAY

The India opener has a tattoo of a tiger’s face on his upper left arm which is rarely seen in public as it’s covered almost all the time. He has another intricate art tattoo on his right upper arm but that too is concealed most of the times. The one that’s visible is on his right forearm --- a slender tattoo which resembles a bird.

RAVINDRA JADEJA

He had a ‘Jaddu’ tattoo done on his right forearm after a dragon tattoo on his shoulder which he had got in 2008. There is also another tattoo on his neck. He plans to ink his wife’s name next.

VIRAT KOHLI

The Indian captain has a growing collection of tattoos now, especially on his left arm. Starting just below his left elbow is a tattoo of a monastery, a symbol of peace and power. Above that is a tattoo of Lord Shiva in meditation with Mount Kailash and Mansarovar in the background. His upper right arm has a tattoo of a Samurai warrior. On the left shoulder he has a tattoo of god’s eye with a negative space that turns into an Om sign.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN

Dhawan has tattoos of Arjuna, Lord Shiva and Baba Deep Singh on his right arm. On his left shoulder is a tribal design while lower down is a ‘Carpe Diem’ (which means seize the day) tattoo.

UMESH YADAV

Yadav has five tattoos. Most prominent is a tattoo of Lord Shiva on his upper left arm, below which is the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. He also has a Virgin Mary tattoo.

KL RAHUL

Once the boy with clean cut look, he now sports an array of tattoos. One covers his left arm, one on his right arm, another with ‘Vini, vidi, vici’ written in it.