Rumors circulate about retiring Virat Kohli's well-known jersey number 18 in Test cricket; here's a roundup of the essential details.
Unfiltered Take on the Viral Cricket Storm
Let's dish the tea on that recent India A match against the England Lions, shall we? The buzz has been all about Mukesh Kumar rocking the No. 18 jersey, and boy, did that start a firestorm! Fans went bonkers, bombarding the Indian bowler with heated messages.
But don't jump to conclusions, mate. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a say in the matter. Amid the social media uproar, they came clean about the controversy surrounding Mukesh wearing Virat Kohli's cherished No. 18 jersey at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.
Remember, they also touched on the topic of retiring Kohli's jersey, drawing parallels to the reverence shown to cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.
Behind the Scenes with BCCI
You heard it here first. During a chat with PTI, a BCCI bigwig set the record straight. Mukesh wore No. 18 for the opening Test match against the Lions. No biggie, right? But wait, here's the kicker: jersey numbers in India A games don't have names or fixed numbers. Any player can grab a random number! Only international matches have players stuck to their assigned jersey numbers: sacred ground, indeed.
By the way, the Indian Test squad has two new guys in B Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh. Guess what? Their jersey numbers don't match those sported by Mukesh — good to remember that little detail.
So, About That Jersey Retirement
Ever heard of a formal way to retire a jersey number in Indian cricket? Yeah, right. No such thing. But there have been instances where some famous numbers just didn't get worn again by the newbies.
Take, for example, when Shardul Thakur slotted into jersey No. 10 for an ODI in Sri Lanka. The fans weren't too happy, and Thakur listened, quickly switching his number.
Now, Dhoni's No. 7 was a different story. After Dhoni called it quits from international cricket, no one else was seen donning the hallowed No. 7.
Given Kohli's impact on Indian cricket and the engrossing love for him, it's hard not to imagine anyone else wearing the iconic No. 18 jersey in any format of the game.
Kohli Retires, but Not His Impact
FYI, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 via an Instagram post. This guy captained India to a dominating position away from home and fired up the younger generation with his fitness and dedication.
Stat fans, here are some juicy numbers for you: in his Test career, Kohli played 123 matches in white clothing, racking up 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, strikerate of 61.67, with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries in 210 innings, and best score of 254*. He's India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, trailing behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).
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Man, that's a lot of drama for a cricket match!Remember, this is just an uncensored take. To delve deeper, be sure to check out more sources and uncover the full story!
Additional Insights:- A senior BCCI official clarified that players do not have fixed jersey numbers in India A matches and can choose any number because the jerseys are not labeled with names.- The BCCI official emphasized that only in international matches are the jersey numbers fixed and sacrosanct. If Mukesh Kumar reappears in the senior Test team, he would switch back to his original No. 49 jersey.- The BCCI's explanation aimed to assuage negative fan reactions and clarify the different numbering rules between India A and senior international matches.
- In the realm of sports outside cricket, the glitz and glamour of Bollywood in India have provided a remarkable platform for many celebrities, with cricket players like Virat Kohli also trying their hand at a career in acting, such as in the movie "83."
- The fervor for cricket in India is so immense that it can rival the support for football, a popular sport worldwide. Fans of Indian football teams like the football club India, which plays in the I-League, exhibit the same level of passion and dedication as those following the Indian cricket teams.
- As Kohli bids farewell to Test cricket, his influence continues to resonate across India, leaving an indelible impact on not only the sport, but also the entertainment industry, with many Bollywood personalities expressing their admiration for the cricket legend.
