Fans Pay Heartfelt Tribute to Virat Kohli at IPL Match

On May 17, fans at Chinnaswamy Stadium paid a heartfelt tribute to Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. Wearing white jerseys with "Virat 18" on their backs, supporters gathered to honor the cricketing legend. The tribute gained momentum quickly, with many fans expressing their desire for Kohli to reconsider his decision. Despite rain delays, the atmosphere was electric as fans celebrated Kohli's remarkable Test career, showcasing his stats on the big screen. This emotional gathering highlighted the deep connection between Kohli and his fans, making it a memorable day in IPL history.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 17, 2025, 20:49 IST

A Unique Tribute at Chinnaswamy Stadium

Typically, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is a sea of red during IPL matches, but on May 17, the atmosphere was notably different. Thousands of supporters gathered, donning white jerseys emblazoned with "Virat 18" on the back, honoring their idol who recently made a surprising announcement.

On May 12, Virat Kohli declared his retirement from Test cricket, leaving fans yearning for more from the celebrated player, who holds Test cap number 269. In anticipation of the RCB vs KKR match, fans organized a heartfelt tribute to Kohli, especially after the IPL was paused on May 9 due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

What began as a simple suggestion quickly gained momentum, becoming a hot topic among fans. Notably, commentator Harsha Bhogle expressed on social media that if the fans succeeded in their plan, it would be a memorable sight.

As the day approached, fans lined up to purchase the white jerseys, which were flying off the shelves outside the stadium. In the days leading up to the match, countless jerseys were sold, with many fans expressing their desire to pay tribute to Kohli and urging him to reconsider his retirement.

Inside the stadium, the usual red was replaced by a sea of white as fans showed their support for Kohli, despite the heavy rain delaying the match.

As fans awaited the rain to subside, Kohli's impressive Test statistics were showcased on the big screen, eliciting cheers from the crowd.