Jersey (2022 film)

26-year-old Arjun Talwar is an extraordinary cricketer from Chandigarh with the highest batting average in all of India and 106 half-centuries, fifty-two centuries, nine double centuries and two triple centuries to his name. Following the 1985-86 Duleep Trophy finals, Arjun awaits news of his selection in the India national team, only to find out his inclusion in the list was a misprint. Following this, he quits cricket. Arjun then applies for a job in the food sector and shortly after marries his girlfriend Vidya, with whom he has a son named Ketan, nicknamed Kittu. However, sometime in the early 1990s, Arjun is suspended from his job on corruption charges, although he is innocent.

In 1996, Arjun lives with Vidya and Kittu in a dilapidated house in Chandigarh, with Vidya struggling to make ends meet as a hotel receptionist. There is a flashback to their love story. Vidya marries Arjun despite her father's opposition.

Meanwhile in the present, Kittu loves playing cricket, much like Arjun did. He wishes to get a jersey of the Indian national team for his upcoming birthday. Arjun tries getting one, but finds out it is very expensive; he then tries to loan the jersey in vain and Vidya refuses to lend him money for the same. His friends try pooling funds for the jersey, but fall quite short of the budget. Arjun's former coach Baali Sir approaches him to inform him of an upcoming charity match between Punjab and New Zealand, with players' fees included. Arjun's friend lies that Arjun has agreed to play, forcing Arjun to practice for the match late at night.

The next day, the New Zealand team bats impressively and sets a high target for Punjab. At first, Punjab seems to be losing the match, with very few runs and wickets falling quick. Arjun is sent onto the pitch, hitting fours and sixes with ease. Although the Punjab team eventually loses the match by one run, Arjun is praised by many, especially Kittu, for his exceptional batting. However, he is dismayed to find out that players' fees are going to charity as well. Arjun, ashamed that he was unable to get his son a jersey, tells Baali Sir that he wants to get back up playing cricket.

Officials are skeptical about Arjun, a 36-year-old, playing cricket, thinking he will not do well and will quit again in a year or two. However, they then see him play during practice, amazed by how he is able to score easily. Selections for the upcoming Ranji Trophy are underway, with only 15 out of 30 of the trainees being selected. The results come in, and Arjun is ecstatic after finding out that his name in the list. The first few matches go well, with Arjun making centuries effortlessly and simultaneously earning his teammates' respect and teaching them some of his techniques. Meanwhile, Arjun's time on the field takes a toll on him, resulting in him having to go to the hospital for some tests. Although it is said he may not be able to play in the finals, Arjun nevertheless appears for the match against Karnataka at the Wankhede Stadium.

In the second half of the match, he is pitted against Gowda, a bowler from the Karnataka team who has effortlessly taken wickets of batsmen who had played prior in the match. Gowda proves to be a challenge to Arjun, who however manages to get to a century. Gowda tries many tricks to take Arjun's wicket. However, this does not deter Arjun from scoring. In the final over, the team barely manages to score runs due to the opposition's strong bowling and Arjun being on the non-striker end. On the final ball, Arjun needing three runs to win, attempts to hit a sixer. Despite risking being run out, Arjun manages to make the required runs for his team to win the match and the trophy.

In 2022, Jasleen Shergill, a journalist who supported Arjun during his comeback, writes a biography about him titled Jersey. At a function relating to the book, it is revealed that recently, a list of players selected for the Indian national team headed to England was found, with Arjun's name included in it. A grown-up Ketan is then called upon stage to receive a jersey with Arjun's name on it, thus fulfilling his childhood dream of getting a jersey. Ketan reveals that shortly after the Ranji finals, Arjun had to be admitted to the hospital, succumbing to heart failure caused by arrhythmia, something Arjun chose to keep a secret and the reason why he quit cricket. Ketan then ends his speech by stating that while people believed his father lost his life while trying, it was the opposite; even during hardships, Arjun never backed down till the very end.

• Shahid Kapoor as Arjun Talwar
• Mrunal Thakur as Vidya Rao Talwar, Arjun's wife
• Pankaj Kapur as Baali, Arjun's coach
• Saurabh V Pandey as Ravindra Singh, Punjab cricket team’s captain ^[11]
• Ronit Kamra as Ketan "Kittu" Talwar, Arjun and Vidya's son
  • Prit Kamani as adult Kittu
• Geetika Mehandru as Jasleen Shergill^[12]
• Major Rudrashish Majumder (Retd) as Rudra Juneja
• Anjum Batra as Amrit, Arjun's friend
• Rituraj Singh as Mahesh Karmarkar, Mumbai Coach
• Vinay Varma as Krishna Rao, Vidya's father

Main Field of The Doon School where some cricket scenes were filmed

Doon's cricket pavilion where a song and a few scenes were shot.

Speculations for a remake of the Telugu film Jersey (2019) began soon after its release. Later it was reported that Shahid Kapoor has been roped in to star as the lead actor while Shraddha Kapoor was considered for the female lead.^[13] In August 2019, Kannada actress Rashmika Mandanna was considered to play the female lead in this film and it will be her Hindi debut film. Official announcement was made on 14 October that year, confirming all the cast and crew. But later Mrunal Thakur was finalised to cast in the movie^[14] Shahid's father Pankaj Kapur was roped in to portray Coach Murthy. The principal photography commenced on 14 December 2019 in Chandigarh.^[15]

While filming in January 2020, it was reported that Shahid Kapoor received thirteen stitches during a scene, though he later recovered.^[16] The filming was halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The filming was resumed in October 2020, production moved to Dehradun and filming took place at the all-boys' boarding school, The Doon School, and Kasiga School. Doon's cricket grounds, buildings and pavilion feature in the film and the trailer.^[17] The final schedule of the film took place at the Mohali Stadium in Punjab, and strict bio bubbles and quarantine rules were put in place for the safety of cast and crew.^[18] The filming wrapped up on 14 December 2020.^[19]

The film's songs are composed by Sachet–Parampara while the lyrics are written by Shellee. The film score is composed by Anirudh Ravichander who composed the score and soundtrack for the original Telugu version.^[20] The film version of 'Jind Meriye' is sung by Javed Ali. 'Maiyya Mainu' second version was sung by Sakshi Holkar.

Jersey was released on 22 April 2022. The film was initially scheduled to be theatrically released on 28 August 2020 and then on 5 November 2021, before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed production.^[21][22] It was later on again finalised for cinema release on 31 December 2021,^[23] but was indefinitely postponed due to the Omicron variant spread.^[24] Release date was revised later as 14 April 2022, but it was pushed by a week to avoid clash with Beast and K.G.F: Chapter 2.^[25]