Fans Plan White-Jersey Tribute for Virat Kohli as IPL Resumes
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 prepares to resume, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans are organizing a distinctive tribute to Virat Kohli at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the team's upcoming match against Kolkata Knight Riders today (Saturday, May 17th). Following Kohli's recent retirement from Test cricket, supporters are being encouraged via social media to wear white Test jerseys to honour his distinguished career in the longest format.
Fan Initiative and Stadium Buzz
The idea, originated with a small group of RCB enthusiasts, has gained significant traction online, evolving into a widespread movement across fan forums. This has led to a noticeable presence of replica India Test jerseys, particularly those bearing "Kohli 18," being sold by vendors around the stadium grounds, alongside the usual RCB merchandise. While some discussions have arisen regarding the practicality of a predominantly white crowd potentially affecting the visibility of the white ball during the T20 match, the sentiment to honour Kohli appears strong.
RCB Acknowledges Tribute
The RCB team management is aware of the fan-led initiative. Mo Bobat, RCB's Director of Cricket, stated that while the team has noted the discussions, they do not anticipate it having a significant impact on their play. He highly praised Kohli's ability to remain focused on the task at hand despite the emotional backdrop of his Test retirement. "The first thing to say is Virat's just business as usual, as he always is," Bobat remarked. "He just wants to get on with his business. He's usually ambitious about what we can achieve this year with RCB." Bobat also acknowledged the franchise's immense pride in Kohli's Test achievements.
As Virat Kohli prepares for his first IPL appearance since announcing his Test retirement, a passionate fan tribute is expected at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. While supporters aim to celebrate his illustrious career in whites, both Kohli and the RCB franchise maintain a professional focus on their IPL campaign, which restarts with this crucial encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders.
