Bengaluru: The good news was that IPL 2025 was set to resume after a 9-day break on Saturday with a game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but there was rain in the air at Bengaluru.
In between drizzles, heavy showers and dry periods through the day, there was forecast of rain in the evening as well.
The heavens opened up after 6 pm, but that didn’t deter RCB fans from heading to the Chinnaswamy Stadium to salute their hero Virat Kohli. It was, after all, King Kohli’s first match since announcing his retirement from Test cricket five days ago.
And, most of them were wearing the white jersey of Test cricket, bearing Kohli’s No. 18 on the back.
The idea was floated by a group of RCB fans online, soon after BCCI announced the revised fixtures for remainder of IPL’s 18th edition, which had been put on hold due to the India-Pakistan conflict last week. The suggestion was lapped up by thousands, as they backed the unique method of paying tribute to one of cricket’s big legends of this century.
Even as the ground was covered and the toss delayed because of wet weather, fans swarmed the Chinnaswamy Stadium and turned into a sea of white. They had started arriving at the venue from late afternoon, when the rain had relented for some time.
Fans kept away their red-and-black RCB jerseys for once and sported the white shirt.
Vendors near the stadium were seen selling the Test jersey in bulk, while social media was flooded with images of fans donning a shirt which is not associated with T20 cricket.
To Virat, with LOVE! 🤍
A lovely gesture by the fans in Bengaluru, donning white jerseys to pay tribute to Virat Kohli’s incredible Test journey! 👑
Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/r4DtdEw2gv#IPLonJioStar 👉 RCB 🆚 KKR | LIVE NOW on Star Sports-1, Star Sports-1 Hindi,… pic.twitter.com/AhDrlXxBAV
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 17, 2025
Chinnaswamy stadium is a proper vibe today. A sea of white amidst the usual red #RCBvKKR #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/lQqNLaawhN
— Ashish Pant (@ashishpant43) May 17, 2025
RCB are currently in second place, behind Gujarat Titans, needing one more win in three games to seal their place in the playoffs.
