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The retirement of Virat Kohli from Test cricket last month left fans with a mix of emotions — gratitude for his legacy and curiosity about what happens next. Among the many tributes pouring in, one question continues to spark intrigue: What will become of the iconic No. 18 jersey that Kohli proudly wore throughout his red-ball journey? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t made a formal announcement, but recent developments hint at a silent yet significant move.
Mukesh Kumar wears No. 18 during India A game, sparks fan backlash
The matter gained attention recently when a photo of Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar wearing the No. 18 jersey during the first unofficial Test against England Lions in Canterbury went viral. Fans flooded social media platforms, questioning BCCI and demanding that Kohli’s jersey be treated with the same reverence as those of Sachin Tendulkar (No. 10) and MS Dhoni (No. 7), both of which were retired after their international exits. However, it was later clarified that jersey numbers in India A matches are not fixed and are often assigned arbitrarily. The BCCI was quick to clear the air, noting that Mukesh is not currently part of the senior Test squad.
“In India A games, jerseys don’t carry names and numbers are not permanent. Players can wear any number available. Mukesh chose No. 18 randomly, and it doesn’t carry the same meaning outside of international cricket. If Mukesh is drafted into the main Test team, he will continue to wear No. 49, the number he used during his debut Test series in the West Indies,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.
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Traditions matter in Indian cricket scenario
While Indian cricket does not have an official process for retiring jersey numbers, tradition and public sentiment have played a major role in protecting iconic numbers. Shardul Thakur had briefly worn No. 10 in an ODI after Tendulkar’s retirement, leading to fan outrage and a swift number change. Since Dhoni’s exit, his No. 7 jersey has also remained untouched in international games.
Two new faces — Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh — have been added to the Indian Test squad for the England tour, but both have been assigned different jersey numbers, further reinforcing that No. 18 will remain Kohli’s legacy in the red-ball format.
Also READ: India A batters’ exceptional outing against England Lions ends the 1st unofficial Test in a draw
