Not Shubman Gill!! Virat Kohli's jersey number 18 in Indian Test team given to this player

Virat Kohli has come after a long break, and like always, he ruled, amazed his fans, and left the Australia tour after the ODI leg of India’s tour. After failing in the first two ODIs, Virat Kohli played a match-winning knock in the final ODI against Australia in Sydney and ran the headlines.

Now, yet again, the former Indian captain hit the headlines, but this time, not because of his rare appearance or his on-field antics, but because of his jersey number.

The dashing right-hander has already retired from Test and T20I cricket. Kohli is now only focused on ODI cricket.

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Rishabh Pant’s return turns viral as he wears Virat Kohli’s famous No. 18 jersey in Bengaluru

After his retirement, there were demands to retire Virat Kohli’s iconic jersey No. 18, but the BCCI remains silent on the matter. And now, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was seen sporting Kohli’s jersey number sprinted on his back.

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After a three-month break due to a foot injury, Rishabh Pant made his return to competitive cricket in Bengaluru, leading India A in their home series against South Africa A. But what caught everyone’s eye wasn’t the explosive wicketkeeper-batter’s play, but the number on his back.

Pant was seen sporting Virat Kohli’s iconic No. 18 jersey, sparking a storm of reactions across social media. Fans quickly noticed the switch from his usual No. 17 and began speculating whether Pant had officially taken over Kohli’s famous jersey number in the whites.

Has Rishabh Pant changed his jersey number? pic.twitter.com/DOFfJg4DKz

— Ankur (@cricwithpant2) October 30, 2025

Fans urge BCCI to retire Virat Kohli’s No.18 jersey

Virat Kohli left behind a legacy tied deeply to that No. 18 jersey. This is not just a number, but fans associate it with Kohli’s greatness, passion, and leadership.

The match marked the beginning of two four-day games for India A, serving as a warm-up before the senior team’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.

Since Kohli’s retirement, many fans have urged the BCCI to retire the jersey number as a tribute, similar to how they honored Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 and MS Dhoni’s No. 7. Since the BCCI has not yet made any decision, the number remains in circulation among the Indian players.

Before Rishabh Pant, Mukesh Kumar sports the No. 18 jersey in the India A Match

Before Pant’s appearance in the No. 18 jersey, Mukesh Kumar was spotted wearing the No. 18 jersey during an unofficial test for India A against the England Lions. As pictures spread online, social media erupted with outrage.

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Many furious fans saw it as a sign of disrespect towards Kohli, whose No. 18 had become a symbol of passion, grit, and dominance over more than a decade of Indian cricket. Mukesh, who sports No. 49 in tests, faced massive hate messages and criticism.

No fixed numbers for India A games: BCCI

Following the backlash, a senior BCCI official later clarified that India A players are free to wear any available jersey number during unofficial matches, and it doesn’t affect their designated number in international cricket. The same case applies to Pant, who is also playing for India A.

This official had told 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.”