Controversy Erupts as Mukesh Kumar Wears Virat Kohli's Iconic Jersey Number
Fans React to Mukesh Kumar's Jersey Choice
The cricket community expressed outrage when Mukesh Kumar was seen bowling in Canterbury wearing jersey number 18, a number famously associated with Virat Kohli before his retirement from Test cricket. While it is permissible for any player to adopt a retired player's number, many fans found Mukesh's decision to be ethically questionable.
During a match representing India A against the England Lions at St. Lawrence Ground, Mukesh switched from his previous number 49 to 18. This change sparked discussions among fans, who referenced Kohli's retirement and the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) treatment of him, questioning the appropriateness of Mukesh wearing this number.
Well done @BCCI thanks for sacking Kohli in Test and giving jersey number 18 for Mukesh Kumar. He deserves this.
— Sophia Vijay (@sansofibm) June 1, 2025
" Warraa farewell for chokli" #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/AQBCndmHUF
This incident isn't unprecedented; Indian cricketers have faced backlash for wearing previously retired jersey numbers before. A notable case was Shardul Thakur, who wore number 10 during his ODI debut in 2012, a number synonymous with Sachin Tendulkar. Despite the trolling, Shardul clarified that his choice was based on the sum of his birth date, not Tendulkar's legacy.
Following Tendulkar's retirement, his jersey was officially retired, and after MS Dhoni's exit from the game, players were advised against using his number. Fans are now calling for the same respect for Kohli's number 18.
Mukesh Kumar wore No.18 in the England Lions vs India A match. That number is iconic—it belongs to Virat Kohli. If No.10 (Tendulkar) and No.7 (Dhoni) are retired, No.18 deserves the same respect.
— Sports syncs (@moiz_sports) June 1, 2025
Although Mukesh Kumar has not secured a place in India's Test squad for the upcoming five-match series against England, his impressive performance in the India A match has kept him in the running as a potential replacement in case of injuries. The 31-year-old pacer, who has played 26 international matches, including three Tests, made a significant impact in the unofficial Test against the England Lions, taking three key wickets on Day 3, which included dismissing centurion Max Holden and the captain James Rew.