BCCI issues statement on Virat Kohli fans attacking Mukesh Kumar for donning No.18 jersey

Indian pacer Mukesh Kumar found himself at the center of a social media storm after he was seen wearing Virat Kohli’s legendary No. 18 jersey during the first unofficial Test match between India A and England Lions in Canterbury. Mukesh’s image wearing jersey number 18 on his back spread like wildfire, sparking emotional uproar among fans on social media.

Many felt it was a disrespect towards one of India's greatest cricket icons. Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket, sported the No. 18 with unmatched pride and passion for over a decade. So, when Mukesh stepped onto the field in that same number, leaving many fans baffled.

BCCI breaks silence after Mukesh Kumar wears Virat Kohli’s iconic No. 18 in India A match

Both Mukesh and BCCI also faced intense, heavy backlash, with social media flooded with angry comments and hashtags demanding an apology or explanation behind the move. Amidst the uproar over Kohli’s Test jersey number 18, the BCCI addressed the controversy on Monday (June 2).

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The Indian cricket board has clarified that there was no intent to disrespect Virat Kohli, and the jersey number 18 given to Mukesh Kumar was purely coincidental. The board assured fans that they would review the jersey allocation process to avoid such mix-ups in the future.

A senior BCCI official has further explained that players in India A matches are allowed to wear any available jersey number. However, this does not change their official jersey number in international matches. In Mukesh’s case, since he is not part of the senior Test squad for the England series, he was given the No. 18 jersey during the India A match.

Anyone can pick any random number: BCCI

But if he gets selected for the senior team in the future, he will go back to wearing his original number - 49, the one he wore during his debut for India in the West Indies. The official emphasized that India A kits are different and not permanent.

A BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI, “Mukesh wore No. 18 during the opening 'Test' match versus Lions. But when it comes to the India A squad, there are no fixed numbers, as jerseys don't have names. Anyone can pick any random number. The jersey numbers are only sacrosanct for international games.”

However, Mukesh Kumar has remained silent on the incident; sources suggest he had no idea it would cause such a stir.

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BCCI promises the right tribute to Virat Kohli at the right time

As the fans were desperate to know whether Kohli’s iconic number should now be retired in his honor, much like the tribute given to MS Dhoni's No. 7 and Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10, the BCCI did not confirm any plans to retire the former Indian captain’s No. 18 jersey but acknowledged that his legacy is "beyond numbers" and would be "celebrated in the right way at the right time."

Well, Virat Kohli is still playing ODIs, but the PTI report suggests that no new player in the Test team is likely to wear his iconic No. 18 jersey. Just like Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 and MS Dhoni’s No. 7, Kohli’s number is full of legacy and likely to be retired in the future.

India will have two debutants in B. Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh in the upcoming Test series against England, but they’ve reportedly been given different jersey numbers, not No. 18.